Blockchain for the aviation industry: a revolution underway.
When you begin to think about all the data involved in taking a trip on a plane, it’s really rather staggering. There’s your own personal data, your check-in and ticket information. There’s a huge amount of information regarding the plane, its safety checks and routine procedures. There will be meteorological data, flight paths and schedules, and all of these can alter in an instant. Take all this into account, and you can understand why sometimes flights are delayed or over-booked.
Blockchain could massively improve the handling of this data
There are several tests and much research underway to investigate the uses of blockchain technology within the aviation business. Using a decentralized and distributed database, data saved on the blockchain are highly secure. Blockchain transactions can also be very fast. When you’re dealing with vital and confidential data, that can change in a second, both these factors are of paramount importance.
Blockchain for the aviation industry: what are the real-world use cases?
That’s all well and good in theory, but let’s take a look at some ways in which these new technologies may be incorporated within the aviation industry in the not too distant future…
Automatic payouts for delayed flights
Some insurance companies are already using blockchain to connect to air traffic databases, issuing automatic payments when flights are delayed over a certain length of time. So there’s no need for the customer to go through a claims process.
Track your own luggage
It’s a real pain when you’re waiting for your luggage to come off the conveyor belt and it never arrives. Imagine how useful it would be to have an app on your phone to pinpoint exactly where it is. This is something that Air New Zealand is currently looking into. Automation of compensation for lost luggage could also be implemented into this process.
More efficient maintenance records
Air France-KLM is working on a blockchain-based system to improve aircraft maintenance procedures and records. A fully digital system would be a big improvement, and with blockchain, every transaction is recorded, so there’s always a full audit trail. This could not only increase efficiency, but also would be of benefit from a safety point of view.
An overall smoother experience for travelers
With better handling of these massive amounts of data, in the future, passengers should find that those niggling issues such as delays and over-bookings are reduced. Everything from checking in to boarding the plane could run more smoothly and involve less time and paperwork.
The future looks good with blockchain
While many of these innovations are still in their infancy, it’s certain that blockchain technology will be be implemented within the aviation industry over the coming months and years. These will most definitely be welcome changes and can only improve our experience with air travel.
See also: Enter a Delta Airport Lounge using your Fingerprints!
John is a passionate traveler who has traveled to over 46 countries on more than 30 different airlines. He loves surfing, booking hotels and flights using his frequent flyers points, and exploring new cultures. John lives in London.
