Google’s focus on the travel industry could be deflected as a result of COVID-19, according to a new report.
The Flight Plan 2020 report, put together by IdeaWorks Company and supported by CarTrawler, says that currently the search giant’s focus is on supporting governments with location data and trends gleaned through its remote working products.
The study goes on to say that once the pandemic has passed, prospective partners for Google will remember its role these areas and what it can offer in terms of data.
The reports says that Google will be far more likely to follow these opportunities compared to a travel industry which might be seen as high risk and representing fewer opportunities.
Further findings in the report, which highlights eight ways the industry will be different post-coronavirus, include how airlines position cancellations and change fees.
It says that Southwest Airlines has never imposed such customer charges, proving that a move is possible at other carriers.
Wizz Air's policy to encourage customers to take a travel credit is also referenced, with airline offering 120% of the original purchase price as a travel credit in the future.
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The Flight Plan 2020 report also touches on areas such as cleanliness on aircraft and in hotels after the virus - a trend that has also been highlighted recently by other parts of the industry.
Further trends identified include travel returning domestically as well as regionally first, as noted by other industry observers in recent reports.
It also reveals the need for airlines to balance how they charge for ancillary products, with additional scrutiny from consumers, as well as governments, which may have bailed them out financially during the coronavirus outbreak.
The report: "Expect regulators, reporters, and consumers to be sensitive to any attempt to boost revenue by increasing fees.
“Airlines boost bag fees after receiving government bail-outs” is a headline the industry should seek to prevent."
It adds that "a new level of empathy" will be needed.
Similar caution is needed when carriers talk of executive bonuses and stock options, according to the report, with management teams advised to carefully balance “very necessary revenue (and cost reduction) initiatives against public scrutiny of fairness.”