With borders closed across the world, airlines are one of the hardest hit industries, with combined gross revenue losses estimated to be US$250 billion (RM1 trillion).

Speaking on the future of the industry during a forum organised by the Malaysian Academy of Sciences, experts said greater adoption of technology would be a key factor in the recovery of the sector and its future successes.

AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer Riad Asmat said they had already begun digitisation processes in order to adapt to new health considerations.

“A lot of our procedures have gone contactless. People pay by tapping their card, registration, boarding procedures, we’re moving all of that to contactless procedures.

“We had to digitise many processes to make them easier and more efficient, that’s an area we focused on and I think we did a good job.”

Bicky Bhangu, the president of Rolls-Royce Southeast Asia, Pacific and South Korea, one of the largest aircraft engine producers in the world, said they too had begun to lean on digital processes to improve the efficiency of their operations, such as by optimising transportation and use of raw materials and testing products virtually to limit waste.

“We are also gaining new insights and processes in areas such as smart manufacturing, where innovation will enable energy and resource efficiencies.”

He also said the “third era of aviation” could be on the horizon, with the first two being the invention of propellers and gas turbines.

“We believe pure electric propulsion will power smaller aircraft in the foreseeable future, while larger aircraft will rely on hybrid engines that combine electric power with evolutions of gas turbine engines.”

Not only will this reduce future costs, it will also align with growing momentum around the world to move towards net zero carbon emissions.