Complicating factors that an airline faces when the accident happens in a different market

In the wake of the recent Metrojet crash in Egypt , it is worth remembering that when an accident happens outside an airline's home market, there are inevitably differences that may change how an airline responds.

This was the theme of Jerry's presentation at the IATA communicators' conference in Miami at the end of October.  He highlighted the complicating factors that an airline faces when the accident happens in a different market with differences in:

• Culture and language

• Media and social media

• Infrastructure

• Communications (internet)

• Regulatory environment

• Political imperatives

Jerry told participants that they need to ensure that an airlines management—at headquarters and in remote stations—is aware of the difference and knows how to deal with them.