Ryan DeBruyne, Director of Charter Sales for the New York-based air charter solution company Mercury Jets, discusses how artificial intelligence can transform travel.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming various industries, including aviation. With the advancements in AI technology, air travel providers in multiple sectors, including private jet charter, can now offer better passenger services and enhance the overall travel experience.
At the end of the day, passengers want a convenient and seamless journey with as little stress as possible. Thanks to AI, travel providers are developing better customer service experiences for passengers. Technology-powered human focus can create a winning combination for airlines, and AI is shaping the future travel experience.
For starters, AI-powered systems can now analyze passenger data to provide personalized travel recommendations. By examining past travel preferences, flight history, and destination preferences, AI systems can generate tailored recommendations for passengers. This could include suggested itineraries, flight times, and aircraft options depending on the route.
At Mercury Jets, we are already testing AI travel planning assistants that can plan personalized travel itineraries for their clients. For some, inflight meals and dietary preferences are essential while traveling. AI can offer appropriate meal choices, check for allergens, and ensure no allergen is in the meal.
Furthermore, while private aviation has a streamlined onboarding process compared to commercial aviation, AI can still be used to improve the pre-flight experience further. Especially for international flights, AI-powered systems can analyze passenger biometrics, such as face and fingerprint recognition, to quickly identify potential threats. This will enable even faster security checks and enhance passenger security while also allowing to track down items left by passengers on the aircraft.
Improved customer support and operational efficiency
While AI-powered systems are great, we at Mercury Jets believe that they still do not replace the personal touch a professional account manager brings. While we are leveraging these technologies, our customers still expect to have close interaction with humans, and that’s something we will continue providing in the foreseeable future. The human touch is truly irreplaceable.
Nevertheless, AI is revolutionizing aircraft maintenance and operations. AI algorithms can analyze flight, engine performance, and sensor data to identify potential issues or anomalies that might lead to a developing problem. This proactive approach to targeted maintenance intervention reduces downtime, lowers repair costs, and decreases the risk of an inflight malfunction. This enables operators to schedule maintenance activities proactively, minimizing disruptions and ensuring the safety of passengers and crew.
Moreover, AI can be crucial in optimizing flight operations’ safety and efficiency by analyzing weather patterns, air traffic control data, and fuel consumption. AI-powered systems can also optimize flight routes and improve operational efficiency, identifying turbulence and congested airspace while avoiding potential incidents.
It can also suggest routes that use tailwinds to their advantage, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Real-time data from Air Traffic Control can be analyzed for potential trouble spots, and the crew or the operations teams can adjust flight schedules or reroute flights to minimize delays.
Looking forward
In the future, we could see AI sensors on board aircraft that predict when passengers need a meal tray collected or want to ask for a drink. The sensor then lets the flight attendant or crew know that assistance is required. There could also be an innovative cabin system with software that tracks passenger behavior and adjusts the environment to customer needs.
A smart cabin management system can optimize the best lighting, temperature, and humidity and control ambient noise, although almost all these innovations are in the hands of the aircraft manufacturer.
Engineers are already developing intelligent cabin technology and experimenting with AI-assisted new ideas. Collins Aerospace is developing an acoustic material that dampens the cabin’s noise more. Seat manufacturer Recaro is designing seats infused with disinfectant that destroys germs within seconds. Cranfield University has developed a faucet that atomizes water under pressure, saving 90% of water onboard an aircraft. The passenger experience can only rise to new heights with AI and innovative cabin systems.
In a nutshell, artificial intelligence is transforming how passengers experience air travel. From personalized travel recommendations to enhanced security measures and improved in-flight entertainment, AI is revolutionizing the aviation industry. By leveraging AI technology, operators and providers can better cover passenger needs while improving the travel experience and operational efficiency. As AI advances, we can expect even more exciting and innovative solutions that will enhance the passenger experience and safety in the aviation ecosystem.
The article How AI can improve passenger experience in private aviation first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.
