Looking to catch up on passenger experience news in recent days? I’ve got a fun new video series with Maryann Simson from APEX Media and we’re covering all the top headlines.
Distribution
Inflight social distancing will kill short-haul LCC travel: IATA
Blocking middle seats or even sitting passengers every other row is not a problem when load factors hover in the mid-teens, occasionally peaking at 30% for an especially busy flight. But if social distancing rules remain in place IATA executives believe the LCC market could collapse as a financially unsustainable endeavor.
Premium products, loyalty continue to drive Delta’s growth
lta Air Lines closed out 2019 much the way it started the year. Revenue is up and costs are mostly under control. Perhaps most important, however, is that the company is seeing gains in premium revenue and the SkyMiles loyalty program.
Gulf Air picks Routehappy Rich Content from ATPCO for digital merchandising
The deals keep rolling in for ATPCO as it secures another customer for its Routehappy Rich Content offering. Bahrain’s Gulf Air signed a five year contract to include the content on the GulfAir.com website as part of the company’s efforts to modernize and enhance its flight shopping display.
AirAsia to begin ticket sales for other airlines
Making good on a promise by CEO Tony Fernandes earlier this year, AirAsia is poised to sell tickets for other airlines on its website. Fernandes confirmed the plans on Monday, with further details to come in a formal announcement next week. The effort is the latest step in the company’s efforts to grow beyond just being an airline into a digital services company that just happens to also operate planes.
Introducing Blue Basic: JetBlue’s new, most limited fare option
JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare is now for real. The basic economy offering limits flexibility, effectively introducing a fare hike. And the overall reshuffling of fare families brings a couple surprising adjustments to the company’s offerings.
Kayak picks ATPCO’s Routehappy Rich Content to enrich flight details
Chalk up another win for ATPCO and the Routehappy rich content it distributes. Kayak signed a deal last week to bring the details into its metasearch engine, helping passengers to better understand what they are purchasing, beyond just a seat from point A to point B.
ATPCO boosts rich data distribution with Amadeus, Sabre deals
The online flight shopping experience is about to become a far richer experience. Amadeus and Sabre, two of the largest distribution platforms, will soon have the ability to include far more details about the inflight travel experience and amenities for travelers, helping to shift away from price and schedule as the dominant comparison metrics.
Live from the CRJ550: PaxEx Update 25 Oct 2019
United’s newest aircraft type takes flight this week and the CRJ550 interior really is as special as the company has been hyping. Airbus orders and Boeing delays plus some fancy new wifi and upgraded airports on the horizon. Another busy PaxEx week.
Blockchain sales hit the million dollar mark for S7 Airlines
Can a blockchain-based ticketing infrastructure deliver real world revenue results? For Russia’s S7 Airlines the month of July presented a million reasons to believe the answer is yes.