Airlinetrends.com
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Virgin Atlantic raises the bar with new Upper Class ‘Dream Suite’
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. Having been one of the most glamorous airlines around for many years, as it challenged the dominance of UK’s flag carrier British Airways, Virgin Atlantic has seen its onboard experience slip somewhatin recent years. With the arrival of new aircraft – Virgin will take delivery of…
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WestJet first airline to launch tray table-based inflight entertainment system
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. Last year we covered a new in-flight entertainment concept called TrayVu, developed by Seattle-based Skycast Solutions. The initial design of the TrayVu, launched in October 2011, combined the meal tray and the IFE system into one, while a hole cut in the tray allowed the display…
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Frontier Airlines lets travellers choose their favourite local beer
Catering to increasingly sophisticated passengers who want to try something new besides the generic soda and alcohol brands available onboard, a growing number of airlines serve local niche beverages inflight, which adds an authentic element to the experience and supports the local economy as well. Virgin America, Porter, Alaska Airlines Especially, small to medium-sized airlines…
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Amsterdam Schiphol Airport launches electric taxi service
Aiming to provide business travellers with an easy transfer to and from the airport, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has just launched the Schiphol Business Taxi, a luxury taxi service designed to help business travellers start or end their journey in business class style. Besides petrol-powered vehicles, the new taxi service also offers a green, electric option,…
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Air New Zealand lets passengers show their golf skills up in the air
To celebrate its sponsorship of the upcoming New Zealand PGA Pro-Am Championship, Air New Zealand (ANZ) is currently running a world first in in-flight entertainment: A ‘30,000ft In-Flight Putting Challenge’. From 22 March untill 26 March, passengers on on ANZ selected flights between Auckland and Queenstown will have the opportunity to “putt for prizes.” Always looking for…
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EVA Air Future Star Alliance Member
Star Alliance announced today that its Chief Executive Board (CEB) has unanimously accepted the membership application of EVA Air. This decision underscores the Alliance’s long term strategy of seeking network growth and providing access to new regions which show strong economic potential and development. Further Alliance Expansion in Asia “EVA Air is a very good…
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British Airways to launch temporary Olympics ‘brand space’ in London
As people are bombarded with marketing messages, real-life interaction with products and brands (a.k.a. experiential marketing) has become increasingly valuable for airlines to get their message across. We reported earlier on Southwest Airlines’ ‘porches’ in New York and Denver, Delta Air Lines’ ‘SKY360 lounges’ at sports venues, and film and culinary festivals in the U.S,…
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TAM lets kids help flight attendants with onboard service
A growing number of airlines are launching dedicated services and products aimed at improving the flight experience for families with children. From the previously discussed ‘Happy Mom’ initiative by Asiana and the ‘Sky Nanny’ by Gulf Air to kid-friendly tray table covers, these kinds of initiatives may be welcomed not just by parents and children,…
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Delta teams up with Porsche to offer premium passengers a ‘branded ride’ to the aircraft
While many airlines around the world offer their premium passengers a complimentary door-to-door transfer by luxury car from their home, office or hotel to the airport, a handful of carriers (including Lufthansa, SWISS, Qatar Airways and Oman Air) also provide their most valuable customers a limousine transfer from the airport terminal or airline lounge straight…
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KLM’s ‘Meet & Seat’ social seating lets passengers pick an interesting seat mate
KLM today has launched a ‘Meet & Seat’scheme which encourages passengers to pick seatmates by checking out social media profiles of fellow passengers who link to their profiles during check-in. The idea is that flyers will be able to find out about interesting people who will be on board their KLM flight, for example other…
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Japan Airlines second airline to receive the 787 Dreamliner
In September 2011, Boeing handed over the first keys of a 787 Dreamliner to Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA). This year, the other Japanese heavyweight, Japan Airlines, will be taking delivery of the aircraft in a fleet renewal and route restructuring effort. The 787 is a twin-aisle airplane that can accommodate between 210 and 250…
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Airlines in Brazil open ‘mini travel stores’ at subway stations to engage emerging middle class
Brazil, the largest South American country, has recently enjoyed a tremendous growth of its middle class, resulting in increased demand for aviation. In fact, the Brazilian middle class grew from 30 percent of the population in the 1960s and ‘70s to 55 to 60 percent in 2011. In 2010, the lower-middle class accounted for 34…