Virgin America has now published a pricing list for the ViaSat high-speed Wi-Fi it introduced in July of last year to part of its fleet, a product competitive to JetBlue’s popular FlyFi product.
At the Aircraft Interiors EXPO in Hamburg, Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) revealed its Next Generation Wireless IFE (wIFE) solution, Entice, designed to appeal to both airlines and their customers.
The new Entice system is a combined hardware and content distribution system with an ample library of entertainment and activities, as well as an opportunity for airlines to earn revenue through advertising and simplified onboard retail.
JetBlue has announced that it will add its Mint cabin service to new Caribbean destinations.
Mint cabins offer private suites, a fully-flat bed (JetBlue is the only U.S. airline offering lie-flat seating on its regular service to the Caribbean), and 15-inch flat screen In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) screen with on-demand entertainment.
During the flight, Mint passengers are offered a signature cocktail, a tapas-style menu, fresh espresso from an in-flight cappuccino machine, dessert from Blue Marble and Mahze Dahr Bakery. For personal comfort, the airline offers passengers Birchbox amenity kits.
New Wider Screens on Emirates 2-Class A380 Economy Cabin, Source: Emirates
Emirates Business class Lounge on Emirates 2-Class A380, Source: Emirates
Warm and authentic welcome onboard from all crew–nice eye contact. For a video tour this feels genuine. The crew are really this nice onboard, I’ve found.
Don’t read these as “Bad Bits” because there are none. These are merely not-so best.
New antimacassar colours maybe? A bit too sherbet.
Bulkhead and galley wall gold brush work. I’m not feeling it.
Having customers walk through bare galleys to get to Business class through beautiful spiral staircase, and up a bare staircase to get to branded wall feels backwards. Of course, there are good service reasons for this, but it could be done better. We know there are beautiful galleys available now–and quick, simple attractive ways to make plain aircraft galleys attractive. (Scroll down the linked article and you’ll see what I mean.
Interiors are high-quality, but could be ready for trim/styling/palette update.
In general, Emirates offers one of the finest in-flight experiences in the skies. But the decor needs a review. It’s not unattractive, only a bit too gilded lily.
All interiors aesthetics are subjective, so these are only an observation based on my personal design taste. Having flown on Emirates many times before (though never these A380s), I must say that I liked the decor once onboard the aircraft itself.
But it has been around for a while and, in terms of design aesthetic, I believe it’s showing its age.
Perhaps focus groups have liked this design in the markets served, but comparing it to the design of Etihad’s new A380s in similar markets, I’d say there’s call to consider a light image refresh soon. With so many aircraft entering the fleet, it might be difficult to coordinate, but it’s also an ideal opportunity.
Perhaps there are already plans underway. I’ve heard rumours to this effect, but I’ve been hearing those rumours for a while. We’ll just have to keep watching the skies over Dubai.
Whether or not you’d trim these cabins differently, they are still pretty hard to beat.
UPDATE: Aircraft Interiors International Magazine has announced that Emirates will be revealing an industry changing ‘super Business class’ seat on its new B777 aircraft. The new seat will be revealed at ITB, Berlin next week. Emirates CEO, Sir Tim Clark, tells Aircraft Interiors International Magazine of the seat:
“We gave the seat a fresh and modern look, retained all the existing features that our customers love and added a few more, while improving the seating and sleeping comfort,” stated Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline.
Global Eagle Entertainment’s Entertainment in Motion (EIM) division–distributor of film and television content airlines around the world–has announced that it struck a new global licensing agreement …
Thales’ AVANT Android based system offers a flexible architecture which allows Singapore Airlines to constantly introduce and easily integrate the latest apps their customers demand.
The fleet will be equipped with Thales latest AVANT monitors, which are the most lightweight ever deployed in the market, and feature full high-definition video and an integrated Avii, Thales’ most modern Android smartphone-like touch controller, in premium cabins. Navigating menus with Avii is intuitive and the device can act as a second screen so passengers can, for example, watch a film on the big screen while playing one of the game apps on the handset or monitoring the flight map.
Panasonic Avionics and All Nippon Airways CO., LTD(ANA) have announced a new partnership to launch ANA SKY Live TV and broadband Internet Wi-Fi services on the airline’s domestic routes …
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