20 / FOCUS ON PROFITS
Profitability is the hot topic of the moment as airlines strive to rebuild sales and lock in new revenue streams in the face of yet more Covid-19 restrictions. As the reality of a recovery dawns, the question dominating many supplier minds is: Are the key decision-makers really brave enough to build back better? Julie Baxter reports
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any experts in the midst of critical conversations around returning food and beverage, retail and digitisation note a worrying dilemma. Airlines see the potential of change but are in a precarious financial position. They are fearful of being the first to move to a new way of doing things because of the investment already sunk into current infrastructure and the risk that innovation won’t reap the rewards anticipated. The markets have changed and new ways of working seem essential to reduce the duplication, waste and missed opportunities but which organisations have the courage to make that change, rather than just hoping familiar old ways will return? Many are asking: “Has the customer changed post-Covid” but perhaps the real question should be: “Have the airlines changed?” Are they ready to do things differently? Kai Kosicki, founder of Expair, says: “Aviation is a very conventional industry. Just think of all the many innovative blueprints for seating people onboardhospitality.com
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