The use of virtual reality in air transport during a pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: Considering the realities of the 21st century and the global COVID-19 pandemic, the article aims to present the pandemic's impact on transport processes in selected European countries and suggested using virtual reality in these processes. Findings: The data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that every day about one hundred thousand aircraft fly, carrying over 140 thousand tons of cargo in total. As far as passenger transport is concerned within the European Union territory alone, more than a billion people use air transport annually, which gives the daily average of almost three million passengers. With an average cruising speed of about 800 kilometers per hour, we can assume that air transport meets the time requirements. Practical Implications: Time is one of the key determinants in society's functioning and the economy on a European and global scale. This determinant of the implementation of specific tasks is, in many cases, the main determinant of decisions made. It is not without reason that the phrase "time is money" is in common use. Considering such perception of the reality of the first half of the 21st century, it is reasonable to consider what means of transport can meet the expectations related to saving time needed to transport people and goods. This is particularly important in times of disruptions caused by the COVID - 19 pandemic.