It was a hot August for aviation around the world.
I got to cover everything from seats to liveries, and all points in between. I also had some great conversations with industry leaders, top brand gurus and leading industry innovators from whom I learned bunches. There were new product concepts to explore and ANA revealed two new Star Wars themed liveries.
In Print
APEX Design Issue
High Demand Drives Seating Innovations, pages 78-80
The Brands that Bond Us, pages 129-135
Top brand specialists, Peter Knapp of Landor, Devin Liddell of Teague, and Christopher Nurko of Futurebrand share their insights on what branding strategies are critical to bring airlines together during the merger process.
Digital
There was actually a lot more to cover on airline branding for mergers than could fit in the print edition of APEX Magazine. How could there not be? With the industry’s ongoing consolidation, this is a topic one could write a whole book about–or at least four interesting in-depth case-studies.
Alitalia and Etihad, Separate but Equal: Branding Strategies Part One, APEX Digital
LATAM, A Cultural Blend: Branding Strategies Part Two, APEX Digital
Managing the Mega Merger, American Airlines and US Airways: Branding Strategies Part Three, APEX Digital
Building a Lasting Bond, United and Continental Airlines: Branding Strategies Part Four, APEX Digital
Conversations with Industry Leaders
Skift Global Forum 2015: Virgin Atlantic CEO on Building a Lasting Airline Brand, Skift
Interview: Spirit CEO on Building an Airline That Trades Comfort for Low Fares, Skift
Interview: What Spirit Air’s CEO Learned by Working for His Competitors, Skift
Building on the Brand
More Force in New Livery as ANA Rockets Forward with Star Wars Franchise, Skift
ANA has knocked one out of the galaxy by aligning itself with the Star Wars franchise. A brilliant move on their part.
Qantas’ Dreamliner Plans Mark the Beginning of ‘New Era’, Skift
Dreamy Dreamliners: Airlines Make the Most of the Boeing 787s Assets, APEX Digital
Cathay Pacific on Designing Brand Experience from the Ground Up, Skift
Getting Ahead of the Competition
From Super-Lux to Raw Unbundled, Etihad Introduces 8 New Fare Tiers, Skift
Fare Skies Ahead: Airlines Offering Fresh Pricing Models, APEX Digital
Upselling Is Killing the Airline Industry One Bad Economy Seat at a Time, Skift
Emirates Can Soon Claim Fame to the World’s Longest Commercial Flight, Skift
On the Passenger Experience
Eight Family-Friendly Airlines That Make Traveling With Kids a Little Easier, Travel+Leisure, Digital
The Future of Flying Could Be More Like a Cruise, Skift
Air Travelers With Disabilities See Some Improvements, Study Finds, Skift
Etihad Adds Concierge Service Because Butlers on a Plane Aren’t Fancy Enough, Skift
The Aircraft Seat Supplier That Built a Business Designing a Better Premium, Skift
We Found the Smart Aircraft Seat that Could Spare Millions of Passengers’ Knees, Skift
Yes, we did find it. You may have read about this innovative seat by B/E Aerospace elsewhere, but, like my other articles on industry patents and new developments, this was the article that started it all.
Technology and Innovation
Airbus Has a Tech Accelerator That Could Make Flying Better for Everyone, Skift
I was quite excited about this one because one of the companies joining Airbus’ wonderful accelator program is James Lee’s Paperclip Design. This young designer has the vision to push the passenger experience to the next level, and it’s good to see him get support from an OEM.