9 Airline Predictions Post Covid-19 Based On Aftermath Of 9/11 and Great Recession (2008)

Air India economy class

I wrote this story in April 2020, right after the pandemic hit, and when airlines were predicted to lose up to $252 billion in revenue that year alone. I wanted to resurface this story because I made 9 airline predictions post Covid-19, using the scenario based on other major industry changes : 9/11/2001 and the Great Recession of 2008. I had noted that airlines, airfare and the way we fly would significantly change — and I was right!

To determine how the global airline industry will be impacted, Dollar Flight Club, a travel company that offers airline deal alerts to 1 million members in over 100 countries, analyzed airfare and industry data using millions of data points from both 9/11 and the Great Recession of 2008, which was a helpful resource to me.

Delta One on 757-200
Me flying during pandemic.

Sources used for the report include the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Aviation Administration and International Air Transport Association. 

Here are 9 future airline predictions post Covid-19, based on 9/11 and Great Recession repercussions.

1. Airfare will decrease 35% through 2021 then increase 27% through 2025.

Delta flight ready to board.

Travel plummeted following 9/11 and the Great Recession. In response, airlines dropped airfare to stay competitive and reduced the numbers of routes offers and decreased flight frequency. 

We can expect lower airfare in the short term, up to 35%, and a 27% increase in airfare once travel demand picks back up, according to Dollar Flight Club’s analytics. 

During the 9/11 attacks, airfare prices dropped an average 18% in 2001; airfare prices increased 25% on average in 2003. 

During the Great Recession, airfare prices dropped 21% on average in 2008/2009; airfare prices increased 24% on average in 2012. Obviously, we saw this during Covid. Airfare is pretty astronomical right now. In the past, I would visit my family from NYC to Atlanta for about $200 r/t… lately, it’s been around $400!

Airfare will drop, one of the airline predictions.

Holiday flights for 2020/2021 were up to 65% off including:

Los Angeles to London: $329 roundtrip

Chicago to Paris: $278 roundtrip

New York to Amsterdam: $278 roundtrip

2. It could take up to 5 years for airlines to rebound from its losses.

It could take years for airports to fill again.

US airlines racked up $74 billion in losses between 2001 and 2010, according to Dollar Flight Club. Due to coronavirus, US airlines are expected to lose up to $113 billion, and yesterday, U.S airlines agreed to a $25 billion bailout with the government, which clearly isn’t enough.

Airlines will have to adapt drastically to restore profitability and revenue once travel demand rebounds over the next 5 years, according to Dollar Flight Club, who points out passenger traffic during the Great Recession did not rebound to what it was in 2007 until the end of 2013. These drops in traffic were a mere fraction of the decline in the past 4 weeks due to coronavirus. 

3. Two US airlines will likely merge.

Will Alaska Airlines merge following the lift of the travel ban?

In 2000, nine airlines held 80% of the market share. By 2011, only five airlines controlled nearly 80% of the US market, according to Dollar Flight Club. 

In the next 6 years, two big carriers will merge, further consolidating control of the market, and low-fare carriers like Spirit and Frontier could fail from the big carriers. 

And guess what? American Airlines and JetBlue partnered up big time, so this prediction was pretty accurate.

4. Airlines will reduce the number of flights and increase load factors.

Expect increased flight loads.

Airlines will significantly cut back on available capacity by reducing the number of flights and routes to increase load factor, according to Dollar Flight Club. This will help increase revenue but will also lead to ticket prices increasing. 

Airlines reduced the number of domestic passenger flights by 14% between June 2007 and June 2012 due to the Great Recession.

Expect to see at least a 30% reduction in domestic routes between 2020 and 2025 due to coronavirus. 

Honestly? This is spot on for our airline predictions post Covid-19.

5. Expect an increased use of code-share agreements. 

LAX during coronavirus pandemic.

In downturn markets, major airlines cut operating costs and gather feeder traffic from smaller cities by increasing the number of advertised flights that are operated by subcontractor regional airlines under code-sharing agreements. This will help airlines fly fuller planes and charge higher prices, according to Dollar Flight Club. 

In 2011, for example, 61% of the advertised flight for American, United, Delta and US Airways were operated by code-share regional airlines, up from 40% in 2000. 

We already pointed out the codeshare between JetBlue and American Airlines, and we’ll likely see more.

6. Passengers can expect really crowded airports and flights.

Flights could be extremely crowded after the coronavirus pandemic.

In the long-term, the airline industry will shrink in general. Customers will have fewer choices of airlines, flight times and available routes and markets. This also means passengers will pay more when they return to flying, according to Dollar Flight Club. 

Passengers in smaller or short-haul markets can expect significant cuts in scheduled air service as airlines downsize operations. This will make it more expensive and harder for these passengers to travel. 

In comparison, the number of scheduled domestic passenger flights of less than 250 miles after the Great Recession in June 2012 was 24% lowers than it was in June 2007. 

Right now, as of April 2022, this isn’t really happening at airports, but with mask requirements dropping soon, and more people heading to travel, wow… this airline prediction post Covid-19 will definitely become a reality, possibly in 2023.

HOWEVER: For the three flights I took from NYC to Atlanta, and even to Puerto Rico, I booked the least traveled times, and all my flights were 100% occupancy. Can you believe it? Not one single seat available flying on a Saturday, returning on a Tuesday.

7. Despite the crowded airports and flights, there were will be fewer flight delays and cancellations.

Flights could be punctual as a prediction in airlines.

Travelers will benefit from less flight delays and cancellations and increased on-time departures. 

During the Great Recession, the percentage of flights arriving on-time improved from 71% in 2007 to 84% in 2012. 

The flights I took? No delays. This airline prediction post Covid-19 has been spot-on for me.

8. Expect more bag fees and miscellaneous charges.

There could be more passenger fees.

With airlines losing at least twice the revenue now in comparison to post 9/11 and the Great Recession, passengers can expect them to charge additional, hefty fees to get back to profitability when travel demand returns. 

For example, airlines made $3.4 billion in 2011 by charging for checked baggage in comparison to $464 million in 2007. 

Bag fees will return to major carriers in addition to additional seat fees, charges for snacks and drinks and increased ticket change fees, according to Dollar Flight Club. 

While I book business class (and if you do too,  you should read my story on business class flaws airlines hope you don’t notice), I haven’t noticed any up-charges since I get them included in my flight (like checked baggage).

9. Flights may be… less enjoyable.

Everything from check-in to boarding to the actual flight could be less enjoyable following the lift of the travel ban.

As airlines cut routes and flight schedules, and passengers endure more expensive and crowded flights, customer happiness may see a decline, according to Dollar Flight Club. 

And hey, if you expect an annoying, packed flight, here’s my tips on how to easily get upgraded to business class.

How do you see the future of flight? Do you have any airline predictions? Let us know in comments below. And while we’re at it, you might as well fly comfortably. Here’s our favorite, most reliable luggage you can get on Amazon.

MORE STORIES:

How to avoid being passenger shamed on your next flight. 

6 flaws in business class that airlines hope you don’t notice

How to realistically get free flight upgrades

 

Travelbinger is proud to be a publisher with Google News and Apple News

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Please do! I’m a one-man team for this website, so any help is sincerely appreciated.

Travelbinger is now on YouTube! Subscribe here for exclusive travel tips and advice from founder Jimmy Im.  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

+ posts

Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.

Leave a Reply