This book is a must read for aviation managers and all stakeholders that are interested in improving the business performance of airlines. In this book, the first of its kind on AI in Commercial Aviation, the author outlines how Machine Learning and AI are accelerating and improving the performance of airlines. Moreover, the author shares insights into many new use cases that emerging technology can deliver. He tackles all crucial functions from air navigation, flight operations, to sales, distribution, cargo, retailing, and commercial optimization. He then looks forward to blockchain and the metaverse and its opportunities.
With connected devices and the Internet of Everything (IoE), airlines can become retailers, sell, deliver, and service holistic experiences tailored to individuals in real time. This requires airlines to modernize processes and practices supported by decision intelligence (AI) that ingests sophisticated insights and executes service automation in real time. Transforming airlines from a production to a services-based execution also requires departments to be aligned along overriding customer experience and profitability goals. The book demonstrates how AI can be deployed to redesign airline organization as well.
The author also describes the next wave of business transformation around the integration of commercial functions using Composite AI at enterprise level. With his holistic understanding and experience in the airline industry, the author provides valuable insights and helps managers understand how to embrace ML and AI and contribute to future commercial aviation and cargo success.
Ricardo V. Pilon has 29 years of practical airline/aviation management and management consulting experience from line management to corporate senior management. He has worked in strategic planning, organization and governance, revenue management and pricing, business improvement, alliances, marketing, distribution, network and product planning in both passenger services and air cargo management. He has completed over 200 projects in 98 countries with over 100 airlines and air cargo operators, industry organizations IATA and ICAO, civil aviation authorities, and aircraft manufacturers. In recent years, Ricardo has been heavily involved in creative innovation and transformation and has served as a senior executive in mid-size and large companies as an interim executive and Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer. Ricardo holds a PhD in Strategic Airline Management, an MBA in International Aviation from Concordia University in Montreal, a Master of Science in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from NTI, as well as a Bachelor of Science in International Management from the International Business School in the Netherlands. Ricardo is also the author of Cruising to Profits, published in 2015, and a number of airline management publications, such as Disruptor Airline. Since 2022, Ricardo is specializing further in the intersection of (airline) organization design, AI, and psychology and pursuing his second doctorate of applied organizational psychology in this field.
