How COVID-19 is impacting and reshaping the airline industry

Abstract

The Airline Group of the International Federation of Operations Research (AGIFORS) held a conference in October 2020 that included keynote addresses from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Airbus, as well as three panels that included representatives from 11 airlines throughout the world that focused on how COVID-19 is impacting and reshaping the airline industry. This paper presents key themes that emerged from these discussions, including the impact of border closures on airline operations and demand forecasts; the shift in development priorities within revenue management departments; and outlooks for how passenger preferences, booking curves, and fare product restrictions may change after the COVID-19 pandemic.