Observations from the World Aviation Festival 2024: Accessibility, Innovation, and the Future of Air Travel

If there’s one thing that stood out during my time at the World Aviation Festival (WAF) 2024 in Amsterdam, it’s that aviation is a microcosm of our increasingly interconnected world. WAF isn’t just another industry trade show. It’s a melting pot of perspectives, bringing together technologists, logistics experts, hardware engineers, marketers, pilots, and more from every corner of the globe. This year’s event was, hands down, the most diverse conference I’ve ever attended—with representation from every continent (except Antarctica, but we’re all eagerly awaiting an eventual launch of “Antarctica Airlines” 🥶).

Beyond the diversity, WAF is where the future of air travel takes shape. It’s where bold ideas meet real-world applications, and where aviation leaders discuss how to transform their industry. This year, a few key themes emerged that I think are worth sharing, especially as they reflect not just on aviation, but on how we build experiences for the modern world.

The Evolving Focus on Accessibility

One of my biggest takeaways from WAF was how central accessibility has become to the aviation industry. For someone who’s spent most of their career in tech, I’ve often thought of accessibility as designing products that can be used by people with various disabilities. But in aviation—an industry that spans continents, cultures, and physical spaces—accessibility takes on a whole new level of complexity.

Travel is inherently a challenging experience. It requires navigating unfamiliar environments, deciphering information in both analog and digital forms, and physically moving through spaces designed for mass transit. If there’s one domain where accessibility should be front and center, it’s here.

What struck me most was how airports and airlines are proactively addressing this. They’re thinking about accessibility not as an afterthought, but as a core design principle. From ensuring that digital experiences like apps are usable by everyone, to designing physical spaces that accommodate diverse needs, the industry is working to create an inclusive travel experience for all.

Bridging the Analog-Digital Divide

Another fascinating theme was the delicate balance aviation maintains between the analog and digital worlds. While many industries have fully embraced digital transformation, aviation still exists in a hybrid space. And that’s not a bad thing—it’s actually one of its strengths.

Take airline mobile apps, for example. Their role isn’t just to digitize the travel experience but to enhance it in meaningful ways. The key is to add value without distracting from the core product: getting passengers from point A to point B. At WAF, I learned how airlines carefully choose which digital features to prioritize, ensuring they complement the physical journey rather than detract from it.

This balancing act is a reminder that not every innovation needs to be digital. Sometimes, the best solutions are those that bridge both worlds, augmenting the analog experience with just the right amount of tech.

The Rise of Digitally Ambitious Airports

For many, airports are just transit hubs—places to endure on the way to a final destination. As you'll note in the chart below, North American airports (as an example) rarely deliver 'customer satisfaction' in excess of a solid C- grade.

But a handful of forward-thinking global airports are challenging that narrative, investing in personalized digital experiences to enhance the passenger journey. London Heathrow (LHR), Lyon Airport (LYS), and the Manchester Airport Group are leading the charge in Europe, while stateside, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) are beginning to follow suit (this list is incredibly biased based on ‘product roadmap’ conversations I’ve had with individuals from these organizations). These airports are not only embracing digital tools but are using them to create tailored experiences that turn mundane layovers into memorable parts of the journey.

From real-time updates on security wait times to personalized shopping recommendations based on flight routes, these airports are redefining what it means to travel. The lesson here? Airports that go beyond being mere transit hubs to become experience destinations will ultimately win the loyalty of passengers.

Looking Ahead: Predictions for the Future of Aviation

Based on what I saw at WAF, I’m convinced that the next decade will be transformative for aviation. Accessibility will no longer be a “nice-to-have” but a baseline expectation. The industry will continue to blur the lines between analog and digital, creating seamless, hybrid experiences that enhance every aspect of travel. And airports will evolve into experiential hubs, offering services that cater to the unique needs of every traveler.

✈️ These trends aren’t just limited to aviation—they’re lessons for anyone building products and experiences in a complex, globalized world.