Disrupted Airports and Disruptive Technology: A Recipe for Mutual Advantage?

Abstract

Much work has been undertaken showing that executive air travel can have stress-related consequences. As greater use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has been put forward as a substitute for air travel, then such activity would appear to be a realistic strategy to relieve air travel-related stressors. Although one projection estimated the potential substitution effect at 70%, to date however, empirical studies have come up with much more modest numbers. This paper aims to update the literature on two relatively recent developments in respect of these substitution effects, viz. increased congestion at European airports and advances in mobile technologies. The results suggest that the combined impact of these developments will result in more business communications being undertaken in relatively stress-free environments thus providing potential benefits for both sectors.