Factors Affecting Passengers’ Acceptance of Single Pilot Operations: A Qualitative Study conducted in Greece

<p>Single Pilot Operations (SPO) have drawn significant attention during the last years, as a result of the increased dual flight crew expenses, and as a remedy to the impending pilot shortage which is estimated to manifest itself in the following years. The main objective of this study was to explore the factors that influence the Greek passengers’ acceptance of SPO. To that end, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed through Thematic Analysis by combining both <em>a priori</em> and inductive coding procedures.</p> <p>Qualitative findings of this process revealed seven factors influencing passengers’ intention to accept and fly with a SPO aircraft. The three predominant factors were the reputation of the airline company, the degree of passengers’ knowledge regarding SPO safety, and the track record of successful SPO over time. Furthermore, four additional factors were found to influence passengers’ intention such as the urgency to travel, the price of the SPO tickets, the social pressure, and the duration of the flight.</p> <p>By drawing on the current study’s findings, specific recommendations are proposed in the case of SPO implementation, especially from the industry’s perspective. Finally, it is advised for any future SPO marketing strategy to take into consideration such factors that can eventually result in a smoother transition to single-piloted flights.</p>