​Cleared for takeoff: Charting the new era of airlines

euronews (in English)

The airline industry is changing, and new strategies and partnerships are reshaping its future.

Transcript

00:00The airline industry is buzzing with transformation.

00:05With strategic alliances and innovative business models at the forefront, the sector is in

00:10a new era of opportunities.

00:13The future of air travel is here and it's taking off.

00:20Welcome to The Exchange from our studio in Doha.

00:23Coming up on this episode, we speak with Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyad Air, who reveals their

00:29exciting plans ahead of the Saudi Arabian Airlines' inaugural flight.

00:34And we hear from the CEO of Airlink, Roger Foster, about partnerships to enhance connectivity

00:39in Africa.

00:41A recent report from the International Civil Aviation Organization reveals that aviation

00:46is a powerhouse for global growth.

00:49Valued at an estimated $2.7 trillion, the aviation industry plays a crucial role in

00:54shaping economic development.

00:57It's projected that by 2035, there will be at least 200,000 planes taking off and landing

01:03worldwide every day.

01:05That's twice as much air travel as there is now.

01:09Growing demand means airports must manage more passengers and cargo sustainably.

01:14According to the International Air Transport Association, by 2050, sustainable aviation

01:19fuel could help reduce emissions by up to 65% for the industry to achieve net zero.

01:26But change is already happening.

01:29Take the Airbus A350XWB, for example.

01:32It's been dubbed the pinnacle of next-generation aircrafts, with its focus on long-haul efficiency.

01:38Meanwhile, despite facing a number of challenges, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which has been designed

01:45to reduce environmental impact, is still a very popular aircraft.

01:50Well the market is about to get more competitive because the new international airlines will

01:55soon be taking to the skies.

01:57Saudi Arabia's second national carrier, Riyadh Air, is counting down to welcome their first

02:02passengers on board in 2025.

02:05I spoke with Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and asked him how the airline plans to deliver

02:11its promise to transform the future of travel.

02:17We're very confident that what we'll bring to the marketplace is something that gives

02:21a far more personalized, offer-order experience to the traveling public, and back to a digital-led

02:29business that enables travel.

02:31AI's all around us these days, as we know.

02:34In some cases more obvious than others.

02:37You could use voice to say, I can leave work on Thursday, I need to be back by Sunday.

02:46I have X amount of Saudi Riyals or dollars or whatever currency to spend.

02:54Just like Apple Ipay, you show your face, you double click, and the transaction receipt

03:01is linked to your face, i.e. your biometric.

03:04That then becomes your ticket, your passport, your loyalty program.

03:11And all of these things have actually been around for some time now, so this is not being

03:16right out there, but it's having the ability to be able to connect some of the dots.

03:23Exciting times for Riyadh Air, Tony Douglas there sharing his vision for the new airline.

03:28So how do investments influence the future of the industry?

03:32Our reporter Tuso Kumalo in Johannesburg explored a recent deal between two airlines and its

03:37potential impact on air travel in the region.

03:42Hi Laila, I'm at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa.

03:48Today we are exploring how a new strategic partnership between Qatar Airways and Airlink,

03:55a prominent South African airline, will boost connectivity in the region.

04:00This deal aims to enhance regional accessibility and strengthen economic ties between Qatar

04:06and African nations.

04:08This is an award-winning airline.

04:10I believe they've been the best airline in the world for eight years in a row.

04:14I think anybody who's ventured through the Doha airport would recognize the scale and

04:18the magnitude and the excellence associated with the brand Qatar Airways.

04:22We are thrilled to have them on board as a 25% stakeholder in Airlink.

04:27This fresh equity will enable the airline to expand rapidly and unlock new opportunities

04:33to increase competitiveness.

04:35With a fleet of over 60 modern aircraft, Airlink operates a network of more than 50 destinations

04:42across 15 African countries.

04:45What we will be doing is working on points of their network and including them in points

04:50to our network and building the relationship on the basis of a symbiosis where they go

04:55into those destinations, but we also attend those destinations and bring those destinations

05:01into communication with our hubs, Johannesburg, Cape Town specifically, also including Durban,

05:07and then thereby link in to the Qatar Airways network, especially within our sub-region.

05:14As Airlink continues to grow, this investment positions the airline to play a vital role

05:21in enhancing South Africa's economy through improved connectivity, logistics and job creation.

05:31Aviation is then clearly set for remarkable advancements, but could there be some turbulence

05:36on the horizon?

05:38I put this question to Omar Hashmi, founder and managing director of Volavion Consulting.

05:46Globally, we definitely saw a rise in airfares around the world, but I think what's happening

05:52now is that people have done their post-pandemic travel, they've done their revenge travel,

05:57and they're looking at maybe slowing down potentially.

06:00I think also with aircraft capability, Boeing, hot topic at the moment, lots of issues with

06:06its reputation, but also new aircraft being talked about, so the 797 coming back into

06:12discussion again, and that will be quite interesting because it will enable a mid-level, mid-size

06:19capacity area to be given to the market.

06:23Now it's time for our regular feature, Business in 60 Seconds. Start the clock.

06:29Adidas gears up to unveil its Q3 2024 earnings report. The global sportswear giant is finalising

06:35a sponsorship agreement with carmaker Audi, which would establish Adidas as the official

06:40apparel partner for the German automaker's upcoming entry into Formula One in 2026.

06:46This deal would mark a significant expansion of Adidas' footprints in the motorsport arena.

06:52Germany's flagship airline Lufthansa is set to announce its Q3 2024 earnings release,

06:57along with the launch of its new advertising campaign featuring NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki.

07:03The campaign highlights Lufthansa's Allegri's business class through a film featuring the

07:08former Dallas Mavericks star. And Caterpillar will be releasing its Q3 2024 financial results

07:14and introducing a new initiative called Pathways to Sustainability.

07:18This four-year program is designed to support clients in their energy transition efforts

07:23and offers tailored training and guidance focused on sustainability goals.

07:29With travel demand continuing to soar, the future of aviation is on course to fly high.

07:35Technological advancements and industry trends are also driving changes in airplane operations,

07:41promising dynamic and impactful growth for generations to come.

07:45Well, that's all the time we have for now on this edition of the show.

07:49Thanks for watching.

07:50Please do check out euronews.com for all your latest business news and join us again next time on The Exchange.

Cleared for takeoff: Charting the new era of airlines

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Cleared for takeoff: Charting the new era of airlines