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Since when airlines make a lot of money? Their profit margins are so thin I wonder how they survive at all. The solution is obvious, of course. Machines can dr

Since when airlines make a lot of money? Their profit margins are so thin I wonder how they survive at all. The solution is obvious, of course. Machines can drive cars, hence, they will be also flying planes soon. Pilots complaining their jobs are routine? Good. All routine jobs are to be eliminated, the sooner the better.

dzhiurgis 11y ago
I believe the airports themselves need more automation.
- atemerev 11y ago
  A modern large airport is the pinnacle of efficiency. Most of things there are already quite automated, or on the way to it.
mathattack 11y ago
In a historical context, you are right. Warren Buffett once said something to the effect of, "A far-sighted capitalist would have shot down the Wright Brothers" [0] More recently the combination of consolidation, less competition and lower fuel costs have created record profits. [1] [2] [3] Also, machines are already doing most of the flying. "Autopilot" comes from aviation. :-) Automatic planes are actually a less tricky problem than automatic cars, as there's much less random stuff to navigate in the air. [4] [0] http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/business-quotations http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/business-quo... [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/business/energy-environment/airlines-reap-record-profits-and-passengers-get-peanuts.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/business/energy-environmen... [2] http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2016/01/12/airline-profits-2015/78647924/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2016/01/12/airl... [3] http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/08/us-carriers-airline-industry-record-global-profits http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/08/us-carriers-... [4] http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/travel/autopilot-airlines/ http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/travel/autopilot-airlines/
- atemerev 11y ago
  On "less competition" — I don't know, maybe in the US. European airlines are currently busy with outcompeting each other to hell. I fly Swiss (that one that once was a premium airline, with silver dinnerware etc.) Twice a week. Average ticket price? $50 (Geneva to Barcelona). Trains are way more expensive now.
  - mathattack 11y ago
    Yes - I think this is a US-centric article.

dzhiurgis 11y ago

I believe the airports themselves need more automation.

atemerev 11y ago
A modern large airport is the pinnacle of efficiency. Most of things there are already quite automated, or on the way to it.

mathattack 11y ago

In a historical context, you are right. Warren Buffett once said something to the effect of, "A far-sighted capitalist would have shot down the Wright Brothers" [0] More recently the combination of consolidation, less competition and lower fuel costs have created record profits. [1] [2] [3] Also, machines are already doing most of the flying. "Autopilot" comes from aviation. :-) Automatic planes are actually a less tricky problem than automatic cars, as there's much less random stuff to navigate in the air. [4] [0] http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/business-quotations http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/12/business-quo... [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/business/energy-environment/airlines-reap-record-profits-and-passengers-get-peanuts.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/business/energy-environmen... [2] http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2016/01/12/airline-profits-2015/78647924/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2016/01/12/airl... [3] http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/08/us-carriers-airline-industry-record-global-profits http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/08/us-carriers-... [4] http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/travel/autopilot-airlines/ http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/travel/autopilot-airlines/

atemerev 11y ago
On "less competition" — I don't know, maybe in the US. European airlines are currently busy with outcompeting each other to hell. I fly Swiss (that one that once was a premium airline, with silver dinnerware etc.) Twice a week. Average ticket price? $50 (Geneva to Barcelona). Trains are way more expensive now.
- mathattack 11y ago
  Yes - I think this is a US-centric article.