View: COVID-19 changed the way we fly for good

Almost 20 years ago, 9/11 changed the face of global aviation. The security protocols, which were institutionalised in the years following September 11, 2001, made flying a very different experience. Consumers accepted these protocols and, in some way, felt reassured by their existence. The Covid-19 crisis has caused a deeper level of disruption, bringing the world to a standstill.

Travel, especially air travel, now requires a completely new set of protocols to build passenger and regulatory confidence. But this time, there is the benefit of technology — camera/computer vision, seamless integration with reservation systems, robotics and Internet of Things (IoT), etc — to aid us in the process. The aviation ecosystem and its stakeholders will need to keep three things in mind to come out stronger, post this crisis.