regard, and I expect Western sys- tems will eventually adopt similar practices. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: With regard to the theme of World Connect by APG: ‘Beyond words, the power of communication in aviation,’ the
more efficient aircraft, alternative fuels, improved flight paths. Some of these efforts depend on airlines, while others require cooperation from governments and regulators. Infrastructure for new fuel types, for example, will require significant investment and state support.
rigorous oversight and constant investment in safety. When rare incidents occur, they are thoroughly investigated, and lessons are quickly applied to prevent recurrence. It’s true this year we’ve seen more accidents than usual, but given the sheer volume of tens of thousands
“WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, THEY ARE MULTIPLE CHANNELS THAT ALLOW AIRLINES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS”
power of communication seems ob- vious given that we need aeroplanes. At the same time, aviation is criticised in the media for causing too much pollution, particularly in Europe. And from this point of view, communication in the aviation world is poor. Is it because air transport is taken for granted that professionals attach so little importance to good communication in the media? Richard Burgess: The theme was chosen to highlight many aspects of communication in aviation: marketing, lobbying, and also the way airlines communicate with passengers today : social media, messaging apps like WhatsApp or WeChat in China, and more. But I agree, the lobbying side is an area where we could do better. As an industry, we need a more unified approach to showcase aviation’s positive contributions—connecting cultures, fostering understanding, and enabling global business and leisure travel. On the environmental side, there’s a huge amount of work underway:
There’s a strong desire in the industry to advance sustainability, not only for environmental reasons but also because efficiency reduces costs. But I believe we need a stronger, unified voice to communicate these efforts more effectively and present a balanced perspective on aviation’s environmental impact compared with other industries. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: Two years ago, Jean-Louis Baroux was delighted to announce that there had been no major accidents in aviation. 2025 is a difficult year, marked by spectacular errors, plane crashes that we were no longer used to seeing, and numerous incidents. What do you think? Is it just something that happens sometimes? It was very shocking to see so many crashes in such a short space of time at the beginning of the year. Richard Burgess: Every accident is tragic and deeply regrettable. However, aviation remains one of the safest forms of transport globally. The industry is subject to
of flights operating safely every day, it’s remarkable how high aviation’s safety record remains. Credit is due to the airlines, regulators, and safety professionals who maintain these exceptional standards. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: It seems that when an incident occurs, it is most often due to human error. Do you think that in the future, aeroplanes will be flown more automatically? Richard Burgess: Technologically, aircraft could already operate without pilots. The bigger question is whether passengers would be comfortable boarding a plane without a pilot or copilot in the cockpit. Even with self-driving cars, many people remain uneasy. It’s true that human error plays a role in some incidents, but human judgment is also critical in situations where automation alone may not make the right decision. My personal view is that the world is not yet ready for pilotless aircraft. The first real step in this direction will likely come with drones.
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