Flight disruptions in 2023, as measured by schedule changes, were about three times higher than in 2019, according to air travel data provider Infare in an Amadeus report on aviation disruptions released Tuesday.
The report cited current challenges and barriers to reduce disruptions, as well as possible solutions.
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More than half of airline and airport executives (52 percent) surveyed in the Amadeus study reported that their organizations were experiencing more disruptions than in 2019, compared with one-third who reported fewer. Respondents cited several factors contributing to the elevated level, including skill shortages, bad weather and the rapid return of demand for air travel. They also noted difficulties with staff retention and recruitment.
About 64 percent of airlines are investing in new technology to improve their disruption responses, according to the study. The top reason airlines are investing in disruption management capabilities (70 percent) was to improve their public image. That was followed by improving the passenger experience (66 percent) and differentiation (58 percent). Just 34 percent cited reduced costs as a reason.
Airline respondents acknowledged that their own systems were not always "sufficiently well integrated," which can make it difficult to get needed information to airports. About 44 percent of airline leaders cited "the inability to cascade information within the airline" as a top barrier, followed by "fragmented operational systems within the airline" (40 percent) and the "inability to understand the impact of decision on onward plans of passengers" (34 percent). Further, 26 percent cited the "lack of a common technology platform with stakeholders at the airport," while 26 percent also noted the "lack of computerized or automated planning for rebuilding flight schedules."
Nearly half (48 percent) of airport respondents' top barrier to better disruption management was "lack of data and insights about upcoming disruption." This was followed with 38 percent citing "difficulty cascading key information between stakeholders during disruption events" and more than one-third (34 percent) noting "last-minute provision of information from airlines."
Some solutions featured in the report include the increased use of biometrics and improved passenger re-accommodation. There's also a need for better communication with passengers during disruptions, as well as airline and airport collaboration, according to Amadeus.
The Amadeus study was conducted by research agency Opinium during the fourth quarter of 2023 and included a survey of more than 100 senior airline leaders, research with 50 senior airport leaders, and at least 15 in-depth interviews with senior operations leaders from airlines, airports, industry associations and technology companies. Respondents were from the U.K., France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, India, China and South Korea, according to Amadeus.