The Business of Passenger Experience
How much is too much for the 737 program in a single week? And is there an end in sight for the shifting of loyalty programs away from loyalty? Plus, inflight wifi and a premium play for mid-haul travel.
Get all the details on this week’s top PaxEx stories inside.
What happens when you take an existing, reasonably successful aircraft type and just add new engines? And what if Boeing does it again to launch the 767-X, shelving the NMA program in its wake??
Airlines often talk about “meeting consumers where they are” to help drive sales. Digital sales channels are changing the way those interactions occur and for some carriers the pace of that change is dramatis. Ethiopian Airlines recently took a significant step on this front, opening up new digital payments options in two key markets.
Hawaiian and JAL had grand plans to coordinate their operations between Asia and Hawaii. The US DoT has other ideas. The ATI application was denied this week, citing insufficient benefit to passengers.
A mega investment shakes up the aviation landscape in the Americas while biometrics continue to grow globally and a new type brings major improvements (and minor cuts) for a growing airline.
A major shake-up is underway in the Americas as LATAM bails on its long time partner American Airlines in favor of a significant financial investment (and JV that is more likely to get through the courts) from Delta Air Lines.
The airline will insist that the move is about increasing options. But Hawaiian Airlines launched its Basic Economy fares in three markets today, resulting in a $30 fare increase to passengers.
Airlines come and airlines go. Especially in the low cost arena. It is hard to get too excited or broken up as it happens. This is not even the first to go this month. But with Thomas Cook the story is somewhat different.
French discount carrier XL Airways halted ticket sales on Thursday evening. That’s bad news for the LCC and could potentially spill over to the business class market as well, bringing La Compagnie down with it.
Virgin Atlantic wants to grow at London’s Heathrow airport. A lot. This is no secret, of course. The carrier has strongly endorsed a third runway at Britain’s busiest airport for years, hoping to secure a significant boost to its landing slots portfolio should that finally come to pass. This week the company translated that drive into maps, hoping to generate public support for its plans. There’s just one problem: It is almost certainly impossible for Virgin Atlantic to deliver what it is suggesting.
