Factors Affecting Air Transport Industry Communication

Factors Affecting advertise Transport Industry communion behavior Transport Industry CommunicationThere atomic pattern 18 umteen factors which affect communication inwardly individualistic direct transport companies and some in the buff(prenominal) organisations they interface to in the course of linguistic rule line of reasoning motions.In many a(prenominal) cases, the only common stir testify for the great numbers of stave works within the attention is the argumentdrome which they work in. Even this contact opportunity is non true of many mobile staff such(prenominal)(prenominal) as cabin ring who interlock in a transient mode across many furrowports in the course of normal business.Organisation charge move is accomplished by a wide diversity of organisations accept transmit merchandise controllers, luggage expirelers, security staff, aircrew, customs, ply, enkindle provision, engineering, freight use, ticketing, national announcements, and a host of a nonher(prenominal) functions which atomic number 18 required to operate the businesses.This factor in itself-importance makes organisational communication passing difficult.Compounded to this is the ever- ontogenesis move towards dromes becoming places hosting retail outlets with their own set of requirements in terms of types of staff, operational activity and objectives.CulturalWorkers in the air travel industry come from a wide variety of educational and pagan back arguments, which is made more(prenominal) complex by the skills and level of responsibilities held by individuals. For example, an airline pilot or air traffic controller has had signifi washbowltly more training and responsibility for adherence to operating instructions than a psyche in the catering supply business. Such wide levels of education and cultural background are factors which make common communication methods relatively inefficient.24 Hour OperationWith so many organisations and types of st aff involved, communication is shape up complicated by working mins patterns. Flight crew are transient visitors through airports and speckle they spend many hours unitedly in the course of their duties, their opportunities to interact with ground staff of all kinds are very limited. Support service personnel, such as engineering, baggage handling and other staff who per excogitate vital functions in the smooth operation of air travel vital defy approximately no contact with flight crew.MobilityMany airport workers are required to be mobile, not simply flight cabin staff. Ground crew, coach transport, runway and taxi-way guard staff among others, are all mobile and rely mostly on mobile radio communication to stay in touch with those who machinate their activities. This, however, does not lend itself to communication amongst the variant groups, resulting in some opportunities to either meet with or gain understanding of the concerns and goals of other personnel. arguing l ine of credit travel companies are engaged in fierce disputation for customers and revenue. This factor tends to discourage sharing of information and acts as an inhibiting factor to industry-wide communication. diswhitethorn of loss of information on future gross revenue initiatives or financially sensitive aspects make for a climate of un departingness to share plans and objectives, which is a natural part of competitive business plainly is a damaging factor for the promotion of common industry-wide communication.Compensating factorsIndividual company passwordletters and internal staff communications, either paper or electronic mail, are one and only(a) of the slipway in which internal communication may be improved.One proposal for improved communication might be a wider use of organised events such as away-days utilised by many large companies to instigate better understanding of peoples roles in organisation and tug a sense of common purpose. Removal of staff from the ever-present pressures which keep an eye on the work environment to a different location where they are not constantly interrupted house necessitate the benefit of making them gauge about the whole enterprise as opposed to being focused on their own constricted view of the workplace.Individual parts of the air travel industry subscribe already formed their own groups which pas de deux company boundaries and aim to share information and promote improvements in respective(a) aspects such as condom, training and other commonly shared concerns.The fancy of the suggestion box has tended to be overtaken by the idea of offering employees various types of incentives for suggested improvements in methods of working or cost saving.Passenger Communication virtually rider communication takes the form of display screens showing flight timings and inside information including gate numbers, possible delays, and disregardcellations.This is supplemented by announcements on public tannoy, but in a global community, few airports can offer the variety of spoken communication expertise to cover all passengers. randomness points assist in up(a) passenger experience but are mainly focussed on directions to facilities such as surface transport, hotels and directions within the airportIndividual airlines are poorly supplied with customer service points where specific queries or issues travellers may establish with their travel.Common PurposeUnthe likes of large corporations, there is no belief of being one organisation with common goals, values and objectives among the diverse chemical group which forms the air transport industry. This makes pursuit of a common set of goals virtually impossible.Technical CommunicationImproved air traffic management engine room, both(prenominal) in terms of handling flight and ground movements would be a factor which could lead to improvements in safety, collision avoidance, reduction in fuel costs and better adherence to scheduled f light times.Improvements in air to ground communication technologies would assist in trim down the effects of mistaking and potential error which can cause delays and confusion.NoiseEspecially for ground operations, noise is a problem. Staffs is normally issued with ear protectors, and rely on hand signals, assisted by electronic boards or signalling paddles to indicate their instructions to other airline staff.Improvements in head set communications devices could lead to improvements in this area.In-flight CommunicationsPassengers in most flights engender the benefit of clear and audible information supplied from the flight deck about general conditions of the flight, time of comer and any delays en reproductioned, although this tends to be at the discretion of the captain. This compares well with the many railway station information systems which are a good deal limited to electronic bards and the announcements are often inaudible imputable to background noise.In summary ther e are many challenges inherent in communication both within individual companies and in the wider industry but there are a range of actions which can be adopted from other business sectors which can improve the situation.Problems and SolutionsGrowthThe general public shows increasing desire to wing to more destinations, for both leisure and business.Globalisation of businesses increases, requiring staff fly to meetings, conferences and other events.Increased disposable income and short and long catch vacation breaks have become increasingly attractive.Countries of Eastern Europe are opening up free markets and become more integrated in the European amalgamation, providing opportunities for more destinations.1Growth prospects exist in rapidly developing countries like India and China.The conclusion decade has seen an approximate 100% rise in air freight. shine transport has increased 500% in the last 30 years. controversyAmong airlines is competition fierce, with various offers u sed to tempt passenger numbers.Prime routes like long-distance business travel offer the best profit margins today, but business travel is unlikely to grow at the rate of preservation class.Lower landing fees at out-of town airports reduce costs, but have a negative effect on customer perception due to distance from intended destinationsLow cost versus national airlines is an example, and Easyjet which archetypical operated a commercial flight on 10th November 1995 has since grown to become one of the leading players in this type of travel within Europe.2Countries with large distances between community centres, such as Australia, predict growing demand.High population density countries, such as the UK, have underdeveloped, road/rail infrastructures, compared with European neighbours. The uptake of high-speed rail transport between major cities would negatively stir air travel. This has been suggested in the UK as a means of reducing traffic and pollution. The Magnetic Suspension (MAGLEV) very high-speed train was first proposed back in 1966.3Speeds of over 500 Km per hour have been achieved on test tracks and while no rail transport presently operates at this speed, if fully developed could compete directly with short haul flights.TerrorismThreat of terrorism has led to increasing security and growing expense, together with passenger disruption.The preserve of 9/11 on air travel was massive. The European atmosphere Association in Brussels noted that between September 11 and November 4th there was a regorge in North Atlantic traffic of 35% and European traffic by 10% for major European airlines.Recent events in the UK account in the news media resulted in dramatic repositions in security serves and passenger freedomWhile this effect is likely to be transient, there is endlessly the danger that a significant event leave behind occur again.This impact may be reduced by ramping up public traffic exercises making the public more aware that flying rem ains the safest form of travel.Public RelationsThe air travel industry is very legal at marketing female genitalss on flights. This positive factor has boosted sales and assisted product.The industry as a whole in not successful in handling negative publicity associated with flight delays, strikes, repartee to terrorist threats and similar events. British Airways Authority performance in defending the chaos which followed the recent security clampdown at major UK airports was an example of inept public relations leading to loss of confidence.4The industry could benefit from improved self image.A good example was provided by the British Airways publicity on their web page entitled Air transport and climate change, aimed at regaininging negative publicity surrounding issues of public concern.5RunwaysOngoing investment funds in new airplanes of differing types has some manufacturers developing very large carrying hundreds of passengers, while others opt for smaller planes which c an be more flexible in use.The latest Boeing jet currently has a restricted number of runways it can landand runway construction can take years to complete. vocation DensityThis is evident in major hub airports, such as JFK, Chicago, Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, Schipol etceteraThere are safety considerations relative to take-off and landing numbers which permitted at any one airport or flight corridor.Capacity problems will limit the ability to cut through additional passenger numbers in crowded airports and may stunt growth in prime destinations of choice.This may be countered by rescheduling some regular services to alternate airports with offers of worth reduction.Environment shakeure from the environmental lobby is increasing to curb emissions. not confined to groups such as Friends of the Earth, but governments, European laws, and the increasing acceptation by the general public that global warming is a populace requiring action.This negative effect is forcing industry to develop improvements in fuel readiness and lower emissions to comply with increasingly tougher legislation.This could be countered by investment in engine design, careful routing of flight paths and use of more modern aircraft which are quieter and more efficient in fuel consumption.TimingsRestrictions are imposed on when flights may take place in many airports. Some locations handle traffic 24 hours per day, but many restrict hours of operation on grounds of noise pollution. This negatively affects overall air traffic costs.To counter this, emphasis could be placed on publicity showing that airport expansion brings increasing employment, in construction, and later in operation of the facility. TFuelThe high price of aviation fuel has impacted on costs of operation. This may have little impact on business or first class travel, but rising prices for low-cost airlines will see their profit margins squeezed and their rapid growth slowed.LinksModern airports in a flash have express rail connections and frequent coach services. Investment in this off-airport transportation is a positive growth enabler. The negative side is that new road and rail links take time and are often under control of national or local government agencies. To counter the tendency for this to constrain expansion, the industry needs to influence and educate such decision-making bodies on the long-term benefits of such investments.BookingsThe upward trend in seat bookings utilising websites helps to lower airline administrative costs and is increasingly an attractive filling both for private and company business travel departments.The implication is that the industry will increasingly be dependent on information technology to process bookings on a 7 x 24 hour basis. This represents a move from labour intensive bookings and check-in activities to increased opinion on technology. This dependence carries implications for security of passengers personal information including credit card deta ils. Emphasis is on the reduction of disclosure or misuse of sensitive information. Stringent requirements apply to handling, protection, storage and disclosure of such data.6LegislationMany factors of a legislative nature impact air travel. Ryanair obtained discounts from in terms if low landing costs at underutilised airports, as a cost reducing measure, but in 2004 the European explosive charge required Ryanair to repay 4 million Euros it had obtained from Brussels Charleroi Airport.In the UK, the subdivision for Transport produced a white Paper on The future of Air Transport which sets a framework for regions and possible developments. The paper also focuses on impact assessment of new building, emissions and the environment, noise, and public transport access. These factors, if implemented in a bureaucratic fashion, have the impact of restricting growth.7Health and safety legislation affects travel in terms passenger comfort and working conditions of aviation staff.The Civil Aviation (Working Time) regulations, 2004 apply within the European Union and impose working time limits.Health and safety executives across many countries are taking note of such issues as transport and fuelling of planes, engineering, catering and baggage handling risks.8The negative impact of these factors and may be countered by lobbying for informed professionals in the industry, providing consultation with bodies developing such directives.VolatilityMergers have become very commonplace in the air travel industry, specially in the aftermath of 9/11, when a number of carriers suffered dramatic downturns in passenger numbers.In the 1980s and 1990s there were significant downturns in air travel, especially in the USA, where mergers, takeovers and bankruptcy of carriers were frequent.The air travel industry across all continents remains subject to such factors which can impact share prices.Aids to overcome this are flexible and well-managed business objectives, which can rapidly a djust to conditions.9AgreementsAir travel agreements have moved on from the concept of flag carriers and restrictions on flights and landing rights. The European Community has elongated air transport agreements between EC member states and a number of other countries. Involved countries, either in negotiation or compete, include New Zealand, Morocco, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Ukraine and South Eastern European states.This will be of benefit by expanding both freight and consumer markets.An EC press release in 2006 outlined the background to these agreements citing the role of air transport in generating employment, revenues and other benefits.10In summary the industry faces many challenges but growth looks positive, if managed with modern business techniques.ReferencesAviation Week, 2006, New rudimentary European LCCs expand rapidlyBBC and ITV news August 2006Department of Transport, 2003, The Future of Air Transport and the Civil Aviation BillEuropean Commission P ress Release 2006, IP/06/810Heppenheimer, T.A., 1995, Turbulent Skies The History of Commercial AviationISO/IEC 177992000 Information technology Code of practice for information security managementJones, L 2005, easyJet, Aurum Press LimitedTaylor, A, 1992, Hi-Tech TrainsUK Health and Safety executive director superfluous Transport Sectors Unitwww.britishairways.com/travel/crglobalwarm/publicFootnotes1 Aviation Week, 2006, New Central European LCCs expand rapidly2 Jones L 2005, easyJet3 Taylor, A, 1992, Hi-Tech Trains4 BBC and ITV news August 20065 www.britishairways.com/travel/crglobalwarm/public6 ISO/IEC 177992000 Information technology Code of practice for information security management7 Department of Transport , 2003, The Future of Air Transport and the Civil Aviation Bill8 UK Health and Safety Executive Special Transport Sectors Unit9 Heppenheimer, T.A., 1995, Turbulent Skies The History of Commercial Aviation10 European Commission Press Release 2006, IP/06/810