There is much conjecture, yet limited consensus about what air travel will look like in the next normal. Natasha Frost discussed the evolution of business travel with leaders in the travel industry, covering safety, costs and the efficiencies of digital communications.
Flying seems to have lower transmission rates than inside dining or religious services, among other ‘risky’ activities, due to a combination of hospital-grade air filters and the dryness of cabin air, writes Frost. Proximity to strangers, passengers without masks and the general discomforts of flying are further deterrents to hopping on a jet.
. . . if the biggest customers that you have . . . want to have a face-to-face: will you go? Of course, you’ll go” – Susan Liechtenstein
Source: BBC, August 4, 2020. Link. Among the unknowns are a vaccine, how quickly economic recovery sets in and how soon countries roll back border restrictions, travel experts face many unanswerable questions. Business travel can provide the chance to network, see the world and take advantage of fantastic personal development opportunities. “Business travel is going to go through an evolution here and it is being reshaped, I think for the better,” said Dave Hilfman.