Will the airline industry ever return to normal?

[doobiedop]

With all the job losses predicted in the news, & social distancing measures will the likes of budget travel that we have come to expect still exist? Surely there will be less flights, less business travel & costs will be higher?

I hope it prices most out tbh.
The air is lovely and the skies so blue.

Environmental issues are one thing but it is also likely that economic crisis and a realisation that business travel, which sustains the like of BA, is often unnecessary. We have now seen a different way of doing things. It is not necessary to meet Bob in New York office for a meeting, with a company paying thousands for Business Class seats and hotels when this can be done by Zoom. Business travellers are the bread and butter of these airlines and with businesses are looking to save money and be more environmentally conscious air travel is going to be hit hard.

Zoom etc is Ok short term but a lot of business can't be done that way..there will still be need for samples, items to be seen in the leather/metal/plastic, face to face discussion/negotiation.

There may well downwards pressure on business class fares, there will well be fewer business travellers in the premium cabins when air travel picks up., but there will still be demand.

Zoom has been around for years. I'm sure most businesses knew it existed, but didn't rely on it because they also know that while it's a lot better than nothing, it simply isn't the same as a face-to-face meeting.

Business travel will certainly be down at least in the short-term, I agree. But I don't think people are going to stop wanting face-to-face meetings for good.

But I don't think people are going to stop wanting face-to-face meetings for good

Agree. Establishing trust with clients isn’t as effective via Zoom nor can corporate head offices really be ‘absentee CEOs’

Zoom is best for maintenance of previously existing relationships.

We run a business selling train travel all over the world to both corporate and leisure. I very much hope (if we manage to get the business through this period of no sales) that given the likely cost and difficulty of air travel that people might consider rail. It’s the only positive that is keeping our teams going right now!