Airlines need to act amid rise of flight shaming, other industry challenges

IT would be an understatement to say that air travel has changed the world. It has united people, saved lives, facilitated global trade and thus helped generate prosperity.

And over the past two decades, the cost of air travel has fallen by as much as 40 per cent, thanks to the commoditisation of aviation. Today more people than at any time in history travel across borders and enjoy new experiences. Air travel has become a key facilitator in the economic advancement of developing countries. Yet it is an industry that still struggles on several fronts. Profit margins are thin. Governments often see aviation as a tax- and fee-revenue opportunity, rather than a partner in development. Infrastructure bottlenecks still hold back efficiency.

Last weekend, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) downgraded the industry's 2019 profit forecast to US$28 billion, from its December 2018 projection of US$35.5 billion, citing a potential weakening of global trade and rising fuel prices. The 2019 forecast is also below the US$30 billion profit the industry earned in 2018. Still, 2019 will be the tenth consecutive year in the black for the airline industry. But beyond profits, the industry faces two very big challenges. One is safety.