Aviation experts at ATM highlight pivotal role of innovation

Aviation experts at ATM highlight pivotal role of innovation

Published: Wed 8 May 2024, 8:56 PM

As passenger numbers in the Middle East are predicted to reach 429 million this year, representing a 5.4 per cent increase on 2019 figures, a panel of aviation experts convened at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to discuss how the market is changing, outlining their predictions for the future of air travel.

The session, titled "Looking Skyward for Innovation: How Technology is Disrupting Aviation", was moderated by travel expert Mark Frary and included panellists from Cirium, IATA, AviationXLab, and Riyadh Air.

Research from IATA shows that international passenger traffic increased by 20 per cent in March 2024 compared with the same month last year. According to Kashif Khalid, Regional Director, Africa & Middle East, IATA, innovation is essential for enabling the industry to accommodate this significant growth in air traffic.

Khalid said, "Without innovation, the future will be very challenging. We cannot continue building bigger infrastructure with the level of passengers we anticipate, so we have to look at how we manage passengers and cargo differently through digital solutions and innovation. On the ground, the industry is working on several innovations, not only to make aviation more sustainable but also to use infrastructure more efficiently. One of these