Why flying stopped being glamorous

     In the golden age of flying, passengers sat in wide, cushy seats, enjoyed full-course meals and smoked as much as they wanted. In the late sixties and seventies, planes have huge lounges, pubs and piano bars. But modern day air travel is a far cry from what it used to be. Most of the time, passengers find themselves cramped between seats. 

Passengers on board the Comet 4, in 1958

You've probably hated budget airlines like Airasia for almost never being on time or rescheduling your flight for no reason. But budget airlines have revolutionised the aviation industry by offering affordable flying options to travellers, making it possible for more people to fly to their destinations without having to fork up a small fortune on a plane ticket. Budget airlines in Malaysia like Airasia, Malindo Air, Firefly, and Scoot provide competitive fares with some compromise in the additional services they provide on board. 
Passengers plays cards while having drinks in 1936

    Budget airlines lower the cost of flying by a variety of ways, such as buying new airplanes which is much more fuel-efficient to offsets the higher purchase price. Flight attendants on budget airlines are often in the beginning of their career and receive little hospitality training. They will often serve multiple roles, such as checking tickets on the gate and clean the airplanes while on the ground, which helps the airline to save cost on labour. Budget airlines also make money from onboard service, such as selling duty free items.

    Budget airlines have their own sets of limitations It's not uncommon to see passengers crying foul on Airaisa's flight delay or flight cancellation on social media. This is because budget airlines strive for high operational efficiency to minimise costs, such as minimising turnaround times, maximising aircraft utilisation or sometimes strategies such as overbooking the flight. Any disruptions in the schedule will lead to flight delays as there is less buffer time between flights.

    In the future, budget airlines will have implemented efficient and streamlined airport processes required for passengers on the ground to reduce waiting times and enhance the overall travel experiences. These implementations include introducing self-service kiosks, automated baggage drop off system as well as self check-in through biometric technology. Some of this features have been implemented in some airlines across the world but still not yet widely accepted or able to replace the manual system.

    More fuel-efficient engine will be designed and deployed, which give the airlines an advantage of minimising fuel expenses as well as reducing flying time. Airplanes will be able to reach the speed of supersonic on domestic flights, which is the speed of sound. The use of Artificial Intelligence in air traffic control systems will manage and regulate the flow of air traffic, ensure safer separation between planes. AI can also used to optimise flight routes and schedules based on factors such as weather conditions and fuel efficiency. 

    In 30-40 years, the aviation industry will make substantial progress in sustainability as the airlines transition to renewable energy sources, hence reducing the carbon emissions. The designs of aircraft and engine will make a significant improve to become more efficient. The development of autonomous aircraft will eliminate the position of pilot as these planes are capable of performing various flight operations, including takeoff, landing and navigation with minimal human intervention.

    To bridge the gap between future visions and the present situation, budget airlines should actively invest in research and development of sustainable aviation technology. It is crucial for airlines to operate greener aircraft as most analysts predict a doubling of oil prices in the next 20-30 years with ever faster increases after that. For example, airlines can invest in the development of electric aircraft that is powered by electricity instead of fuel. Electric aircraft have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and the adverse environmental effect on the earth.

    Reflection: Flying might not be as glamorous as how it was back then, but the rise of budget airlines make air travelling more accessible to a broader population. They have empowered individuals to explore the world.

Future of aviation  // <![CDATA[ _spbodyonloadfunctionnames.push(“setuppagedescriptioncallout”); // ]]>. Future of Aviation. (n.d.). https://www.icao.int/Meetings/FutureOfAviation/Pages/default.aspx 

Schmalbruch, S. (2019, September 4). Then and now: Photos that show how glamorous flying used to be. Insider. https://www.insider.com/vintage-retro-flying-airplane-travel-photos-2018-7#eating-and-drinking-on-an-airplane-looked-so-much-enjoyable-in-the-early-days-26 




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