How mobile will transform the future of air travel [INFOGRAPHIC]

June 16, 2011 By 4 Comments

Interesting report released by Amadeus today outlining its vision for how mobile will influence both passengers and airlines over the next few years.

Perhaps the most intriguing element is the study’s view on how quickly (or not) the sale of airline ancillary product will develop via mobile handsets.

The report, written by Travel Tech Consulting boss and Tnooz node Norm Rose, says the majority of the airlines around the world that were interviewed felt the ability to sell ancillary products via mobiles was “still over a year away”.

Only one (unnamed) airline in North America has the ability to sell ancillary services through mobiles, the report claims, although a number of airlines in the Middle East and Scandinavia claim to have plans to increase their mobile offering into the ancillary area in the next six months.

Presumably the hoped-for explosion will kick in within the next few years at a wider scale.

Unsurprisingly, then, the study found that just 1.4% of passengers had used a mobile to buy an ancillary product from an airline.

Amadeus suggests mobile could be a useful tool as way of “providing both increased incremental revenue opportunities and the ability for airlines to differentiate themselves from the competition”.

Traveller demand for mobile functionality from airlines is apparently growing, with the report finding 16% of consumers are currently using a handset to book trips. The figure increases to 18% for 18 to 35 year olds and a third overall for frequent fliers.

Still, just 3.4% of the 3,000 interviewed for the study use mobiles for flight check-in, with consumers in Asia coming in at 7.4%.

There is a full report to download, but also a rather handy infographic, too [click image for a larger version]:

always connected-500

Related posts:

  1. Half of travellers using mobile for planning in destinations despite roaming fees
  2. Understanding apps versus mobile web for airlines and airports
  3. Amadeus-Forrester report: ancillary revenue vital to travel retailers
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Kevin May About Kevin May

Kevin May is editor of Tnooz. He joined as a co-founder in August 2009 after spending nearly four years as editor of UK-based business publication Travolution.

Passionate about the business of travel and the internet, Kevin played a major role in establishing Travolution in print, online, events and with an annual awards programme, as well as becoming a regular speaker and moderator at industry events.

Prior to Travolution, Kevin was web editor at Media Week (UK) and also worked in regional newspapers for two years at the Essex Enquirer. He started his career in journalism at the Police Gazette at New Scotland Yard in London.

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