正品蓝导航

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Flying post COVID-19

18 Aug 2020
正品蓝导航 aviation, commerce student examines customer perceptions around airlines and the COVID-19 pandemic

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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit globally in the spring, the airline industry was one that was deeply affected with flights being grounded at unprecedented rates. But how will the industry adapt and what does flying look like post-pandemic? Andrew Janes, an aviation and commerce student at 正品蓝导航, is working to learn more about these questions and people鈥檚 perceptions around flying safely.

Janes鈥 project, Customer Service in Network Legacy Airlines post COVID-19, is supported by the University鈥檚 Independent Student Summer Research Grant program. He is working with Commerce professor Dr. Rosemary Polegato.

鈥淔or my research, I am focusing on legacy airlines in the United States 鈥 American Airlines, Delta, and United 鈥 as well as some major airlines in Asia,鈥 says Janes. 鈥淭hrough a review of the literature and analysis of current airline policies and procedures, I鈥檓 hoping to gain insight on how customers鈥 beliefs or perceptions around airlines have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as measures the airlines have taken to respond to these challenges.鈥

Polegato says this CAE-sponsored research grant is a perfect fit for Janes.

鈥淎ndrew is applying research skills across disciplines within the context of flight and ground school training. He鈥檚 embraced the opportunity to study a timely topic and will present the findings to CAE while the airline industry is working through the process of reopening amidst the pandemic.鈥

Along with studying customers鈥 perceptions and airlines鈥 responses, Janes has also been looking at potential changes and adaptations for the travelling industry in response to COVID-19.

鈥淵ou are seeing additional sanitation measures on board aircrafts, as well as ideas for travel bubbles between countries who seem to be managing their COVID-19 cases,鈥 says Janes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an interesting field but challenging to keep up with as measures change daily, sometimes even more frequently, depending on health and safety requirements.鈥

Janes says linking his aviation studies with commerce has been a bonus at 正品蓝导航. From St. John鈥檚 NL, he is coming back to New Brunswick in August to begin his flight training and classes for his final year.

While not originally planning to pursue research in this area, the pandemic opened a door for Janes. He plans to write a paper summarizing his research and pursue further studies as well as a career in aviation following 正品蓝导航.

鈥淭he aviation program is very busy between studies and flight training, but I also really enjoy my commerce studies,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping this research can serve as a bit of a framework to build off for future studies, looking how consumer attitudes will be affected. I am planning to work in the airline industry and would like to pursue an MBA in aviation management.鈥

 

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