The Reinvention of Aviation: The Effects of Covid-19 on the Aviation Industry, and Actions Needed to Ensure its Future Success

This research project sought to develop short-term and long-term projections on the outlook of air transportation and to produce relevant recommendations for the direction of NASA aviation research as it adapts to the disrupted industry. We developed a model to estimate airline recovery trajectories, and researched the unique effects of the pandemic on various sectors of aviation. We found that the pandemic highlighted past flaws in the aviation system, creating widespread effects across the industry. As the industry looks towards recovery, we believe that it cannot simply return to 2019 operations, but instead perform a full reinvention to support long-term demand and prepare for future catastrophes. We recommend that NASA seize this opportunity to accelerate innovation through an increased focus on passenger satisfaction, meaningful steps towards sustainability, and significant collaboration with a diverse range of groups.