Aviation moves fast, and every week I find stories I would like to have written more about. To share these hot news items (and some news which simply caught my eye), I’m introducing ‘Also, in the Skies.’
Here you’ll find a list of announcements and events which helped shape the week in key Flight Chic categories: Aviation Business, Airline and Airport Marketing, Travel Technology, Passenger Experience, and Aviation Safety.
Week 38: Splits, marriage, birthdays and new outfits seemed to dominate the news.
1. Because Brangelina. Norwegian is always on trend.
2. AAL’s new uniforms lead to fashionable safety briefing.
Hello, everyone! Thank you for your attention. It’s time to get you ready for takeoff. pic.twitter.com/chJXUKxJ2v
— americanair (@AmericanAir) September 22, 2016
It’s a very sharp look.
Our male Flight Attendants rock a bold look w/ classic sophistication. Flying American never looked so good. #AATeam pic.twitter.com/x9qB24o9kx
— americanair (@AmericanAir) September 20, 2016
3. Saudia false hijacking alarm. I went through this once. Not fun.
#UPDATE Saudi Arabian airlines confirms false hijacking alarm over plane isolated at Manila Airport
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) September 20, 2016
4. Criticism of U.S. Pre-Clearance Border Controls at Dublin Airport. Fair?
So much for U.S. Customs clearance 'miracle' in DUB >> Net Results: Flying in the face of technology https://t.co/rM826txod8 @IrishTimesBiz
— Robert W. Mann, Jr. (@RWMann) September 22, 2016
5. BA enhances First Class experience at Heathrow T5
British Airways to open First Wing at Heathrow T5 https://t.co/qBbQjM3F3w
— Business Traveller Asia-Pacific (@BTAsiaPacific) September 20, 2016
6. easyJet and TUI contemplate marriage.
WOW!!! That's a great move for both companies TUI and Easy Jet. TUI will gain a great LCC platform and EJ will gain…https://t.co/bqi59PNH99
— Joseph Fischer (@Jofischer007) September 22, 2016
7. ‘Typo’ leads to erroneous sale of €600 million in Ryanair stock
Ooopsie. https://t.co/XiLk8MsAiY
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 22, 2016
8. Is M&S food so bad? I’m just shocked when I still get free food on short haul flights.
BA faces backlash over deal to sell M&S food on its flights https://t.co/GtbFWtQUDo via @MailOnline
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 18, 2016
9. Expert take on Brexit impact to UK airline, via Royal Aeronautical Society.
ICYMI: What are legal implications of #Brexit for UK airlines? https://t.co/4b5WYCWWCJ pic.twitter.com/Hy5tqWEq2m
— Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR) September 19, 2016
10. Schiphol celebrates 70 years
.@Schiphol is turning 100 this week! Let's fly back in time and check out our August 2015 issue, featuring this iconic airport. pic.twitter.com/jtC63hq2uM
— The Airchive (@TheAirchive) September 22, 2016
Schiphol’s First 10 Years As a Commercial Airport https://t.co/f8SSz782IR #KLMBlog //This is #avgeek treasure.
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 19, 2016
11. The Emotional Support Animal (ESA) thing is out of control.
"Dear airline CEO, I'd like to complain about the horrendous legroom in seat 34C" #PaxEx https://t.co/ORNfTzSIlo
— Tim Robinson (@RAeSTimR) September 19, 2016
12. Don’t graffiti your plane. Just don’t.
13. Airbus has ups and downs.
Airbus chief prepares to launch new restructuring plan https://t.co/Ueb8rhDzgt via @IrishTimesBiz
— DoubleWides Fly (@doublewidesfly) September 19, 2016
A321LR – latest member of #A320neo Family, will be able to fly longer routes of up to 4,000 nm (longest range of any single-aisle airliner)
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) September 20, 2016
WTO says EU failed to rein in Airbus subsidies https://t.co/4N1zpafdIc
— Reuters Business (@ReutersBiz) September 22, 2016
14. No. You can’t live in the airline lounge for free.
Man goes to jail for forging boarding passes to get into airline lounges. https://t.co/W8GJYIFXl2 #BBCinbrief @thepointsguy
— BBC Travel (@BBC_Travel) September 19, 2016
15. Surprise: The printed page is alive and thriving in the skies.
Surprising finds=>Premium Passengers Prefer Paper Newspapers on Long Haul via @theAPEXassoc #PaxEx https://t.co/ltWfeiBQOe
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 20, 2016
16. New Transpacific partnership for Delta and Virgin Australia
17. Latin American passengers want in-flight connectivity too.
.@GEE_Media and @AviancaBrasil Pick Up the Pace in Race to Get Connected in Latin America: https://t.co/qOyqyrI2IZ #IFC #PaxEx #AvGeek
— APEX (@theAPEXassoc) September 22, 2016
18. Google Trips is finally here.
Google debuts Trips, a mobile app to plan #travel itineraries faster https://t.co/K4r3zcRgRj //Great in-depth review by @sean_oneill @tnooz
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 25, 2016
19. This is an airline branding chart worth obsessing over.
True blue! We mapped out #airline brand logo colors by region to determine which hues rule the skies: https://t.co/YZz2y8BfnH #AvGeek #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/J1ss0Jp3KI
— APEX (@theAPEXassoc) September 20, 2016
20. Boeing gets clearance on plane sales to Iran
Boeing gets approval to sell jets to Iran as Airbus gets partial green light https://t.co/gXHmVFpCLO via @PSBJ
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 21, 2016
21. Air New Zealand expands commitment to Premium travel sales increasing high-revenue seats on 787s and 777s
Exciting news! @FlyAirNZ to refurbish #B777 fleet including the installation of our #eX3 #IFE system. Read more: https://t.co/2cMSopsRlt
— Panasonic Avionics (@PanasonicAero) September 21, 2016
22. Embraer gets in the aircraft seating business.
Embraer inaugurates seat manufacturing facility in Florida via Aircraft Interiors International https://t.co/RdMlU2hhOr
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 22, 2016
23. Cabin class gap grows. More call for middle-market Premium Economy.
The Growing Divide In Premium And Low Cost Brands, And Those Stuck In The Middle. https://t.co/qqWjqI1hra via @thedesignair
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 23, 2016
24. Airlines encounter merchandising challenges. Pricing strategy is a science onto itself.
Amadeus admits fare families are not working for all its airlines https://t.co/uIs3oy4Cqv via @tnooz
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 23, 2016
25. Air France/KLM says it is all about the customer.
"We must regain our customers and travel agent partners’ trust and restore trust within AirFranceKLM"
— Air France-KLM Group (@AirFranceKLM) September 20, 2016
26. Azores Airlines goes for long-range (Airbus A321LR).
Breaking #aviation news from here on São Miguel island in Atlantic — @AzoresSATA to order @Airbus A321neo & by 2019, the longer range A321LR pic.twitter.com/Wg97dcyWRe
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) September 20, 2016
27. Check out this map of the Miracle on the Hudson, by Jeppesen via the APEX association
Must see this=>Jeppesen maps #MiracleontheHudson via @theAPEXassoc https://t.co/3arFaC9TAk by @HowardSlutsken #avgeek ❤️❤️❤️
— FlightChic | ✈️💺 (@designerjet) September 23, 2016
28. IATA seeks anti-trust immunity to address Venezuela’s blocked funds.
29. Denver International Airport selects Panasonic Aero Weather Solutions.
30. IATA’s new chief calls for more (and faster) innovation.
31. Iberia celebrates 70th anniversary of first flight to Latin America with special livery.
32. U.S. antitrust officials extend review of Alaska Air and Virgin America merger.
33. Cathay Pacific celebrates its 70th birthday. (Looking great, BTW.)
We turned 70 today! Thank you to everyone who has flown with us over the decades. #lifewelltravelled pic.twitter.com/IAXgChlQik
— Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) September 24, 2016
For the Chuckles
Safety Matters
Feeling very proud to be the best at listening to the pre-flight safety briefing
— VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish) September 20, 2016
Bonus: You bet your bippy!
There is not one thing in the aviation world that a woman can’t do. Not one thing.” —Joanne Borg, United, story via the APEX Assoiation.
A safe and enjoyable week 39 to you all!
If you enjoy this weekly summary, please share it. Have some news of your own? Add it to the comments below, or write me at marisa[at]flightchic.com.