Airlinetrends.com
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How aviation industry distracts fliers from cabin crush?
Economy class passengers dread crowded aircraft cabins. Airlines and airplane manufacturers know this. But instead of creating more room for passengers — a move that’d likely lead to a reduction of profits — the prevailing strategy when it comes to cabin upgrades is to distract fliers with better inflight entertainment systems and new seat designs…
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SAS’ new A330 Business Class features Hästens bedding and a snack bar
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. As cabin interior upgrade cycles are becoming shorter, airlines around the world are working hard to keep up with this ‘arms race’ by introducing bigger and better premium seats, as well as smarter and lighter designs in Economy. At the same time airlines are coming up…
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HK Express lets passengers make contactless in-flight payments
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. In many Asian cities, smart cards – prepaid rechargeable contactless payment cards – are a common phenomenon. For example, in Hong Kong, consumers use the Octopus smart card to make electronic payments offline and online. Launched in 1997 to collect fares for the territory’s mass transit…
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Chinese LCC Spring Airlines trials faster boarding procedure using fruit signs
We have reported several times before how airlines target the rapidly growing middle classes in emerging markets in innovative ways. For example, in Brazil TAM sells tickets via kiosks located at low-end retail chains and at subway stations. The airline also allows customers to pay their ticket in multiple installments and provides ‘how to fly’…
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Dutch LCC Transavia first airline to use WhatsApp messaging for customer care
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. The airline industry is one of the leading sectors [infographic] in deploying Twitter and Facebook for customer care. In China – where Twitter and Facebook are blocked – social media platforms such as Sina Weibo (a hybrid of Twitter and Facebook) and WeChat (messaging app) are…
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China Eastern trials ‘intelligent personal assistant’ for in-flight service
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. As airlines around the world are currently in the process of developing an digital inflight infrastructure (e.g, Internet connectivity, aircraft intranet, inflight portal) and the latest generation of in-seat IFE systems has adopted the Android platform, the next phase for airlines is to develop innovative applications…
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SAS to open ‘Café Lounges’ at Gate Areas at Scandinavian Airports
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. While passengers travelling in Business and First and upper-tier members of frequent flyer programs can wait for their flight in the comfort of the airline lounge, Business Class passengers still have to wait with the ‘hoi polloi’ at the gate before boarding the aircraft via a…
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Best Airline Product and Service Innovations of 2014
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. At airlinetrends.com we continuously monitor the global aviation industry for product and service innovations launched by airlines in response to cultural, technological, and economic changes that influence airline customers’ needs and expectations. The top 10 product and service innovations we have selected this year reflect how…
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Innovative airline marketing campaigns that stood out in 2014
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. In order to connect and engage with ever more experienced, connected, and informed consumers, who routinely ignore the commercials and ads thrown at them, airlines around the world are becoming more sophisticated in their marketing activities and are finding new ways to break through the advertising…
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Virgin Atlantic invites Premium Economy passengers to hang out in the galley
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. In order to make as much as possible of the limited ‘real estate’ on board their aircraft, airlines such as British Airways (‘Club Kitchen’), American Airlines (‘Lobby Bar’), Japan Airlines’ (‘Sky Gallery’) and China Airlines (‘Sky Lounge’) have been reimagining how the galley area of the…
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KLM lets friends and family surprise their loved ones with a ‘seat cover’ greeting
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. KLM is on a roll when it comes to surprising passengers with unexpected touches. In the past months, the airline has set up a dedicated ‘Lost & Found’ team at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport that aims to reunite lost items as soon as possible with their legitimate…
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Aer Lingus’ new Business Class ticks many product and service innovation boxes
This article is re-published with kind permission of “www.airlinetrends.com”. Airlines around the world are working hard to keep up with the cabin interior upgrade arms race by introducing bigger and better premium seats, as well as smarter and lighter designs in Economy. At the same time airlines are coming up with creative ways to improve…