Hugo Pellegrin

💸 In 2025, AI agentics provide proactive assistance in business travel logistics, evolving from providing information (LLM) to performing autonomous tasks (LAM). A Business Travel News Europe survey indicates 43% of companies prioritize rail travel, particularly on Eurostar routes. NDC enables personalized bundled offers that align with company travel policies. Gen Z, comprising 27% of the global workforce, values travel flexibility and positive impacts on mental health. 73% of air passengers are interested in biometric technology, with 41% of international airports equipped with self-service biometric kiosks as of 2018. The EU plans to provide a Digital Identity Wallet to citizens by 2027. "Jetset hacking" addresses traveler well-being, with 36% of SMEs considering it a top priority and companies like Qantas developing cabins to combat jet lag. Business travel is shifting to domestic and regional, with 85% of North American business trips and a 30% increase in Europe. This shift supports the growth of high-speed rail, highlighted by Skyteam's partnership with Eurostar.

🚀 Ehang received approval from the Chinese aviation authority (CAAC) to operate its EH216-S in Guangzhou and Hefei as a tourist air bus rather than a flying taxi. Although eVTOLs like the EH216-S are seen as a means to reduce urban traffic congestion, they face regulatory and topographical challenges. Ehang's license restricts operations to non-scheduled flights, subject to weather conditions, and requires using specific, often private, air routes. The EH216-S will start as a tourist service in the summer of 2025, hinting at a potential future for eVTOLs as tourist air buses before becoming flying taxis for destinations such as Benidorm or Mexico.