Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Aviation

article | 12-May-25

Alton Team: Alan Lim, Alvin Chan, Joshua Ng

Market: Technology & Mobility, Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Airlines, Business & General Aviation

The aviation sector, like many other industries, is increasingly turning to AI to improve operational efficiency, manage rising workloads, and enhance customer experience. While AI is purported to revolutionize the industry, there remain technical and regulatory hurdles yet to be overcome. More incremental and narrow AI applications for scheduling and resource planning seem the most viable for now.

Download

MRO & Aftermarket

Steady Growth: 2025 – 2035 MRO Demand Forecast

While the industry continues its recovery path and air traffic is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, it continues to grapple with supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages – the MRO sector has also not been spared from these issues. Alton has recently updated its global commercial air transport fleet and...

Article | 04-Apr-25

Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Airlines

Aviation Outlook 2025 – Supply Chain Challenged

Expectations are high for the aviation industry in 2025, with IATA projecting passenger numbers to exceed five billion in 2025 and total industry revenues expected to break the US$1T mark for the first time in history. However, airlines continue to see their near-term capacity expansion plans being held back by...

Article | 03-Mar-25

Technology & Mobility

Engineering Opportunities and Challenges for eVTOLs

eVTOL Design Complexities and Opportunities Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft represent a promising leap in urban air mobility, offering solutions to congestion and transportation inefficiencies. However, their development presents significant engineering challenges. These challenges include designing efficient propulsion systems, ensuring battery reliability and longevity, managing weight constraints while...

Article | 16-Oct-24

Technology & Mobility, Airports, Aerospace, Airlines

2024 – 2034 Commercial Aircraft Fleet Forecast

As global air traffic demand exceeds pre-pandemic levels in 2024, airlines are turning their attention to fleet expansion, according to a new report from Alton Aviation Consultancy. Despite record profits, operators need to consider short- and long-term strategies to overcome production issues and secure additional capacity. The global aviation advisory...

Article | 23-Sep-24

Technology & Mobility, Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Aircraft Leasing & Financing, Airlines

Japan’s Aviation Industry in the Post-COVID Era (Japanese)

Alton Aviation Consultancy's latest paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Japan's aviation market, one of the largest in the APAC region. The report highlights the strength of Japan's airlines, airports, and OEMs, alongside the critical role of Japanese-owned global lessors and Tier-1 aerospace suppliers. Additionally, it explores Japan's strategic...

Article | 29-Aug-24

Technology & Mobility, Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Aircraft Leasing & Financing, Airlines

Japan’s Aviation Industry in the Post-COVID Era (English)

Article | 28-Aug-24

Technology & Mobility

Investments in AAM – Charting the Path Ahead

AAM Investment Considerations While the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry has made significant strides in 2024, the recent shutdown of Universal Hydrogen underscores the inherent uncertainties associated with investments in future technologies. Despite substantial financial commitments to the sector, significant additional capital is still needed to fund the industry, along...

Article | 19-Aug-24

Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Airlines

The Current Landscape of Singapore’s Aviation Market

Post-COVID Recovery of the Local Aviation Market The local airline industry in Singapore has experienced a robust post-pandemic recovery, driven primarily by a surge in travel demand as Singapore swiftly reopened its borders, but also by the ability of Singapore Airlines to rapidly ramp up its network. Singapore Airlines and...

Article | 24-Jul-24

Technology & Mobility

New Generation Mobility: Financing Considerations for Operators

Financing Considerations for Operators With electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft poised to enter commercial service more fully over the coming years, access to financing may be crucial for operators in order to incorporate these novel aircraft into their fleets. To date, because of limited eVTOLs being delivered to...

Article | 19-Jul-24

Technology & Mobility

New Generation Mobility: Financing Considerations for OEMs

Financing Considerations for OEMs Although progress in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) space has attracted a wave of investment, the amount of funding raised has waned since its peak in 2021. Apart from EHang and AutoFlight’s recent certification under the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), all other players across...

Article | 12-Jun-24

Technology & Mobility

A Glimpse of the Chinese Advanced Air Mobility Market

Overview of Chinese AAM Market Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has emerged as a topic of considerable interest within the global aviation industry. While the Western hemisphere has demonstrated significant enthusiasm towards the AAM industry, there has been similar attention emerging in the East. This article focuses the spotlight on the...

Article | 03-May-24

Technology & Mobility

New Generation Mobility: Operator Considerations – (Part 2)

Operator Fleet Procurement Considerations In our previous short post, we discussed the importance of product market fit and social acceptance as operators procure their eVTOL fleets. Certification and financing are two equally important considerations for operators. Product Market Fit – Vehicle selection based on an operator’s unique use case and...

Article | 15-Apr-24

Technology & Mobility

New Generation Mobility: Operator Considerations – (Part 1)

Operator Fleet Procurement Considerations With the expected launch of eVTOL services at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and the Osaka World Expo in 2025, aspiring eVTOL operators seeking to be early adopters need to develop their business plans and go-to-market strategies to support this vision. Vehicle selection is a key...

Article | 20-Mar-24

Technology & Mobility

2024 Singapore Airshow AAM Forum Key Takeaways

The 2024 Singapore Airshow brought together global aviation leaders to share their insights on current developments for aviation, the challenges to overcome, and their outlook on the industry. Alton Aviation Consultancy, as knowledge partner of the Airshow, facilitated the highly anticipated Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) AeroForum. The AeroForum featured...

Article | 06-Mar-24

Technology & Mobility, Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Aircraft Leasing & Financing, Airlines

Asia Pacific’s Flight Path: Seizing Opportunities in an Evolving Landscape

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region has long been a cornerstone of the global aviation sector, significantly contributing to aviation growth over the past few decades. While the region’s cautious approach to re-opening and economic slowdown following the pandemic have led to a slower recovery than other parts of the world,...

Article | 19-Feb-24

Technology & Mobility

Podcast: AAM Industry Insights with Alton Experts

AAM Industry Insights with Alton Experts Join our AAM experts, Joshua Ng and Alan Lim, as they share insights on the podcast hosted by 'eVTOL Insights.' In this episode, Joshua and Alan cover Alton's expanding role in the AAM space, discuss the upcoming Singapore Airshow Mobility Forum, and provide an...

Article | 12-Feb-24

Technology & Mobility

AAM Entry-Into-Service Considerations – Airport Shuttle Service

AAM Entry-Into-Service Considerations - Airport Shuttle Service As advanced air mobility (AAM) nears initial commercialization in the middle of this decade, we take a look at the initial entry-into-service considerations at one of the promising early use cases for AAM – the airport shuttle service. We breakdown the stakeholder considerations...

Article | 08-Jan-24

Technology & Mobility

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM): Implications for Transport Service Providers

New Value Propositions Operators have broad ambitions for eVTOLs and are particularly excited by the potential of these new-generation vehicles to revolutionize air transport by lowering costs and / or by opening up new revenue streams. With the increased focus on climate change, the ability of eVTOLs to have zero...

Article | 01-Nov-23

MRO & Aftermarket

2023-2033 Global MRO Demand Forecast

Global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) spend will grow 2.2% annually over the next 10 years, from $112bn to $138bn, in response to faster than expected traffic recovery and fewer retirements, according to a new report from Alton Aviation Consultancy. The global aviation advisory firm's independent annual Global MRO...

Article | 25-Sep-23

Technology & Mobility, Airports, MRO & Aftermarket, Aerospace, Aircraft Leasing & Financing, Transaction Advisory, Airlines

2023-2033 Commercial Aircraft and Engine Fleet Forecast

Over the next 10 years, the worldwide commercial aircraft fleet will grow 3.3% annually from 29,000 to 42,000, notwithstanding the ongoing geopolitical and supply chain challenges impacting Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) production rates, according to Alton Aviation Consultancy. The global aviation advisory firm's independent 2023-2033 Commercial Aircraft and Engine Fleet...

Article | 16-Jun-23