The airline industry is changing, and new strategies and partnerships are reshaping its future.
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00:00The airline industry is buzzing with transformation.
00:05With strategic alliances and innovative business models at the forefront, the sector is in
00:10a new era of opportunities.
00:13The future of air travel is here and it's taking off.
00:20Welcome to The Exchange from our studio in Doha.
00:23Coming up on this episode, we speak with Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyad Air, who reveals their
00:29exciting plans ahead of the Saudi Arabian Airlines' inaugural flight.
00:34And we hear from the CEO of Airlink, Roger Foster, about partnerships to enhance connectivity
00:39in Africa.
00:41A recent report from the International Civil Aviation Organization reveals that aviation
00:46is a powerhouse for global growth.
00:49Valued at an estimated $2.7 trillion, the aviation industry plays a crucial role in
00:54shaping economic development.
00:57It's projected that by 2035, there will be at least 200,000 planes taking off and landing
01:03worldwide every day.
01:05That's twice as much air travel as there is now.
01:09Growing demand means airports must manage more passengers and cargo sustainably.
01:14According to the International Air Transport Association, by 2050, sustainable aviation
01:19fuel could help reduce emissions by up to 65% for the industry to achieve net zero.
01:26But change is already happening.
01:29Take the Airbus A350XWB, for example.
01:32It's been dubbed the pinnacle of next-generation aircrafts, with its focus on long-haul efficiency.
01:38Meanwhile, despite facing a number of challenges, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which has been designed
01:45to reduce environmental impact, is still a very popular aircraft.
01:50Well the market is about to get more competitive because the new international airlines will
01:55soon be taking to the skies.
01:57Saudi Arabia's second national carrier, Riyadh Air, is counting down to welcome their first
02:02passengers on board in 2025.
02:05I spoke with Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and asked him how the airline plans to deliver
02:11its promise to transform the future of travel.
02:17We're very confident that what we'll bring to the marketplace is something that gives
02:21a far more personalized, offer-order experience to the traveling public, and back to a digital-led
02:29business that enables travel.
02:31AI's all around us these days, as we know.
02:34In some cases more obvious than others.
02:37You could use voice to say, I can leave work on Thursday, I need to be back by Sunday.
02:46I have X amount of Saudi Riyals or dollars or whatever currency to spend.
02:54Just like Apple Ipay, you show your face, you double click, and the transaction receipt
03:01is linked to your face, i.e. your biometric.
03:04That then becomes your ticket, your passport, your loyalty program.
03:11And all of these things have actually been around for some time now, so this is not being
03:16right out there, but it's having the ability to be able to connect some of the dots.
03:23Exciting times for Riyadh Air, Tony Douglas there sharing his vision for the new airline.
03:28So how do investments influence the future of the industry?
03:32Our reporter Tuso Kumalo in Johannesburg explored a recent deal between two airlines and its
03:37potential impact on air travel in the region.
03:42Hi Laila, I'm at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa.
03:48Today we are exploring how a new strategic partnership between Qatar Airways and Airlink,
03:55a prominent South African airline, will boost connectivity in the region.
04:00This deal aims to enhance regional accessibility and strengthen economic ties between Qatar
04:06and African nations.
04:08This is an award-winning airline.
04:10I believe they've been the best airline in the world for eight years in a row.
04:14I think anybody who's ventured through the Doha airport would recognize the scale and
04:18the magnitude and the excellence associated with the brand Qatar Airways.
04:22We are thrilled to have them on board as a 25% stakeholder in Airlink.
04:27This fresh equity will enable the airline to expand rapidly and unlock new opportunities
04:33to increase competitiveness.
04:35With a fleet of over 60 modern aircraft, Airlink operates a network of more than 50 destinations
04:42across 15 African countries.
04:45What we will be doing is working on points of their network and including them in points
04:50to our network and building the relationship on the basis of a symbiosis where they go
04:55into those destinations, but we also attend those destinations and bring those destinations
05:01into communication with our hubs, Johannesburg, Cape Town specifically, also including Durban,
05:07and then thereby link in to the Qatar Airways network, especially within our sub-region.
05:14As Airlink continues to grow, this investment positions the airline to play a vital role
05:21in enhancing South Africa's economy through improved connectivity, logistics and job creation.
05:31Aviation is then clearly set for remarkable advancements, but could there be some turbulence
05:36on the horizon?
05:38I put this question to Omar Hashmi, founder and managing director of Volavion Consulting.
05:46Globally, we definitely saw a rise in airfares around the world, but I think what's happening
05:52now is that people have done their post-pandemic travel, they've done their revenge travel,
05:57and they're looking at maybe slowing down potentially.
06:00I think also with aircraft capability, Boeing, hot topic at the moment, lots of issues with
06:06its reputation, but also new aircraft being talked about, so the 797 coming back into
06:12discussion again, and that will be quite interesting because it will enable a mid-level, mid-size
06:19capacity area to be given to the market.
06:23Now it's time for our regular feature, Business in 60 Seconds. Start the clock.
06:29Adidas gears up to unveil its Q3 2024 earnings report. The global sportswear giant is finalising
06:35a sponsorship agreement with carmaker Audi, which would establish Adidas as the official
06:40apparel partner for the German automaker's upcoming entry into Formula One in 2026.
06:46This deal would mark a significant expansion of Adidas' footprints in the motorsport arena.
06:52Germany's flagship airline Lufthansa is set to announce its Q3 2024 earnings release,
06:57along with the launch of its new advertising campaign featuring NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki.
07:03The campaign highlights Lufthansa's Allegri's business class through a film featuring the
07:08former Dallas Mavericks star. And Caterpillar will be releasing its Q3 2024 financial results
07:14and introducing a new initiative called Pathways to Sustainability.
07:18This four-year program is designed to support clients in their energy transition efforts
07:23and offers tailored training and guidance focused on sustainability goals.
07:29With travel demand continuing to soar, the future of aviation is on course to fly high.
07:35Technological advancements and industry trends are also driving changes in airplane operations,
07:41promising dynamic and impactful growth for generations to come.
07:45Well, that's all the time we have for now on this edition of the show.
07:49Thanks for watching.
07:50Please do check out euronews.com for all your latest business news and join us again next time on The Exchange.