Even as it resurges, air travel faces new risks and regulatory changes that will necessitate more resilient airport management. In this Viewpoint, we propose a four-step approach to help airport executives handle emerging risks by making their operations more resistant to disruptions and better prepared for any future.  HIGH-STAKES RISKS & POTENTIAL DISRUPTORS 

When Arthur D. Little (ADL) first set up its Future of Mobility Lab in 2010, there was much optimism that by now, we would have made significant progress toward the goal of more sustainable, resilient, safe, inclusive, efficient, and human-centric mobility systems in our cities. Technological developments — particularly the rapid advances of digitalization, connectivity, and automation — promised the ability to deliver tailored, diverse, and convenient mobility solutions to customers that would be attractive enough to prompt a major shift away from private cars.

Changing gear in the journey toward sustainable mobility

The right moment to revisit fare models & help transport authorities cope with challenges

How car sharing can deliver on its potential in an ecosystem play

The digitalization of the economy is profoundly changing trade. Traditional retailers must transform to survive reduced foot traffic and sales. Postal operators that have not yet outsourced their branches face the same problems as retailers, amplified by the progressive disappearance of mail, the growth of virtual banking, and the digitalization of a substantial proportion of counter operations. A deep transformation is necessary.

How innovation unlocks economic opportunities in a volatile world

Performance around punctuality (and regularity) has not made enough progress in reaching customers’ high standards in spite of many programs. Similarly, the occurrence of other adverse events — faulty passenger information, defective seats — and the absence of prompt, satisfactory treatment of such issues generate disappointment, which may offset any positive customer experiences. In this Viewpoint, we reflect on the levers transport operators should put in place to better prevent, identify, and control operational incidents — and boost customer satisfaction.

Most transportation systems and companies have defined elements of their sustainability strategy and launched initiatives related to improving efficiency and strengthening resilience. However, we believe these concepts — sustainability, efficiency, and resilience (SER) — should be considered not in isolation but with a holistic and integrated view.

A pragmatic step to enable MaaS

Setting the scene It has been said that diseases shape cities, from the development of urban sewers in the 19th century as a response to cholera outbreaks, to the COVID-19 pandemic today, which has acted as a watershed for city authorities to reflect and reset mobility visions and strategies. Similarly, sustainability is now becoming a truly central and urgent issue as the adverse impacts of human activity on the environment become ever clearer. The mobility systems of the world’s cities therefore need to adapt rapidly to become more environmentally sustainable, more resilient, and adaptable in the face of shocks and discontinuities. They should be centered on the needs of human beings rather than being determined primarily by their technological infrastructure. Becoming more sustainable, resilient, and human-centric should be a central ambition of every urban mobility system today.

Beyond the hype, where the true value lies