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airBaltic to let passengers customize their buy-on-board meal
By Nikos Loukas, InflightFeed
11 April 2013 | Latvia-based low-cost carrier airBaltic is known for churning out attention-grabbing innovations. Along with differentiating its Business Class by serving passengers a 3-course meal based on organic, seasonal products from local Latvian farmers, freshly brewed Nespresso coffee, airBaltic has come up with a host of innovative ancillary products, a taxi and bike-sharing operation, and the airline has been one of the first to launch a ‘social seating’ service.
Mix ‘n match
To help increase revenues for their buy-on-board program, airBaltic’s latest ancillary initiative is a novel food ordering system that allows customers to customize their in-flight meal when they book their seat. During the pre-order process passengers can choose from a range of meal options, as well as drinks and desserts, and virtually ‘drag and drop’ their preferred meal items onto a digital airline tray, with their chosen meal served to them during the flight. The service is expected to be up and running in May.
Passengers can choose from a variety of 20 pre order meal options, including fish souvlaki, teriyaki salmon, grilled pork or chicken breast, served with one of three salads and one of three types of bread. Hot meals are priced from EUR 7 to 12, salads from EUR 5 to 8, while bread costs EUR 1.
And as consumers become more conscious of what they are eating, each menu items offers nutritional information allowing passengers to make an informed inflight meal decision.
AirBaltic’s customized meal ordering system is provided in conjunction with LSG SkyChefs, whose facility at Riga Airport produces approximately 4,500 meals a day and who guarantees each passenger will see his or her customized meal delivered on board – if ordered at least 24 hours prior to departure.
Says Janis Vanags, airBaltic’s VP Corporate Communications, “We thought it would be fun and interesting for passengers to select exactly what they would like to eat before their flight.”
10 most popular articles on airlinetrends.com in the first half of 2012
By Raymond Kollau, airlinetrends.com
1 July 2012 | For those who have been too busy to keep track of the latest product and service innovations launched by airlines around the world, these are the 10 articles that airlinetrends.com’s readers have found the most interesting in the first six months of 2012.
1. The world’s 10 most innovative airlines
Once a year, airlinetrends.com wraps up its findings and selects 10 airlines from around the world that in our view have launched a wide range of innovative products and services that are an indication of the direction the airline passenger experience is heading in. Read more…
2. How airlines respond to consumer trends with innovative products and services
This airlinetrends.com presentation, given at the 2012 Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Expo, shows how airlines are providing passengers with more control over their travel experience and how devices such as the iPad allow airline crew to serve frequent flyers in a more personal way. The presentation also discusses how airlines can learn from other industries, as passenger expectations are not only shaped by experiences within the airline industry, but are also fuelled by standards set in other industries. Read more…
3. KLM’s ‘Meet & Seat’ social seating lets passengers pick an interesting seat mate
KLM’s new ‘Meet & Seat’ social seating scheme allows passengers to pick seatmates with similar interests before their flight by linking their Facebook and LinkedIn profiles to their seat number. Read more…
4. Virgin Atlantic raises the bar with new Upper Class ‘Dream Suite’
Having been one of the most glamorous airlines around, Virgin Atlantic has seen its onboard experience slip somewhat in recent years. With the arrival of its new A330s the UK-based boutique airline has just unveiled its new ‘Dream Suite’ Upper Class, which it promotes as “a first class experience for a business class fare.” Read more…
5. TAM lets kids help flight attendants with onboard service
Passenger complaints about sitting near noisy children are a recurrent issue in flying. One airline that has been very creative in keeping the kids busy is TAM, which lets kids visit the pilot’s cabin, welcome passengers onboard and help distribute pre-flight candies as part of its TAM Kids program. Read more…
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Iberia teams up with pizza delivery chain to collect unused books for charity
8 March 2012 | Spanish national carrier Iberia, pizza chain Telepizza and open innovation network Ideas4All in January 2012 launched a ‘Books for Colombia’ campaign with the aim of bringing some 70,000 textbooks and reading books to underprivileged Colombian children and teenagers. The campaign, which kicked off on January 10 and ended on February 10, 2012, called on customers of Telepizza to contribute books they no longer need but that are in good condition.
‘Books for Colombia’ arose from a suggestion made by a Telepizza employee to the Ideas4All website, noting that the boxes on the motorbikes used to deliver pizzas to homes might be used for something worthwhile on the return journey. Telepizza is a Spanish pizza chain that operates more than 600 stores in Spain and over 400 outlets in countries such as Portugal, Chile and Colombia.
Customers could donate books that they no longer use to the Telepizza delivery person, after they have ordered a home delivery. Alternatively, they could donate them directly in any of the Telepizza outlets participating in the campaign. The collected books will be flown to Colombia by Iberia in March, where they will be classified and distributed to 120 libraries and schools in Colombian rural and inner cities by local NGO Buena Nota. Says Manuel López Aguilar, Iberia’s Manager of Sales and Customers, “We loved this idea from the start, since it involves two of Iberia’s hallmarks: as a bridge to Latin America, and as a proactive promoter of culture and human progress.”
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Top 11 innovative product and service concepts for 2011
30 December 2011 | At airlinetrends.com we are constantly on the look-out for innovative products and services launched by airlines and airports around the world, as they respond to industry and consumer trends such as ‘digital nomads’, social media, the quest for ancillary revenues and sustainability. Taking a cue from sci-fi writer William Gibson words that “the future is already here, it’s just unevenly distributed,” we are wrapping up 2011 with our selection of the most innovative products and service concepts that have been launched this year. Airlinetrends.com will continue to bring you inspiration in 2012.
1. Airlines go wireless with their in-flight entertainment systems
Our pick of the best innovation of 2011 is wireless in-flight entertainment. This cost-efficient solution gives passengers access to content stored on an onboard server via wireless digital devices. Following launches by American Airlines and GOL, the service has been announced by several airlines worldwide. Read more…
2. 11 ways how airlines are deploying the Apple iPad
Airlines have made Apple’s iPad device available to passengers in their lounges and in the air, or for example use the device as a self-service kiosk or food ordering tool. As the list of applications continues to grow, here is our latest overview of how airlines worldwide are deploying the iPad. Read more…
3. San Francisco airport installs water bottle refill stations after security
Many passengers throw away their bottled beverages before entering airport security and then purchase a new drink once air-side. San Francisco International Airport has come up with a more sustainable and customer-friendly solution by installing free water bottle refill stations beyond security. Read more…
4. Malaysia Airlines lets Facebook members select their seat via Facebook
Malaysia Airlines’ MHbuddy app lets Facebook users book flights and check-in, without leaving the social network. Users can also see if any of their friends are travelling on the same flight, and select a nearby seat. KLM will launch a similar ‘Meet & Seat’ social flight feature in early 2012. Read more…
5. Estonian Air’s social loyalty program rewards fans for online promotion
Tapping into the ‘gamification’ trend, Estonian Air is the first airline in the world to launch a social loyalty system by rewarding Facebook fans for posting and sharing reviews and deals of the airline online. Users can redeem their earned points for rewards such as ticket discounts or a meeting with Estonian Air’s CEO. Read more…
6. US Airways offers passengers free branded snack boxes on domestic flights
Instead of letting passengers pay, airlines are increasingly teaming up with advertisers to foot the bill for in-flight amenities such as Wi-Fi. Earlier this year, passengers onboard US Airways flights were given complimentary snack boxes, sponsored by online luxury retailer Gilt. Read more…
7. Delta to rent out iPads at the airport for onboard use, to be returned via mail
Airport restaurateur OTG Management and Delta Air Lines will launch a ‘Media Bar’ at Minneapolis-St Paul airport. Passengers can rent an iPad at the airport, download their choice of content, take the device with them onboard, and return it in prepaid postage box once they reach their final destination. Read more…
8. Finnair / Helsinki Airport’s ‘Quality Hunters’ scan the world for new ideas
This fall, Finnair and Helsinki Airport selected seven Quality Hunters out of several hundred applicants to travel around the world for 48 days and collect ideas on how the two companies could improve the flight and airport experience. Finnair and Helsinki Airport have vowed to implement the best ideas. Read more…
9. Airlines let passengers hedge against airfare increases, for a fee
When it comes to developing new ancillary products, creativity is key. Several airlines offer passengers a paid option to increase or descrease their exposure to rises in ticket prices. Travellers can ‘freeze’ their fare for up to 14 days when making a booking, or bet against a rise in fuel prices. Read more…
10. AirBaltic introduces innovative ancillary fee for checked bags
AirBaltic, in partnership with Samsonite, has introduced an ancillary product called the airBalticBag. Regular flyers with the airline, who purchase the suitcase, can use it as checked luggage on an unlimited number of airBaltic flights during one year. Samsonite also launched a similar concept with Ryanair. Read more…
11. Austrian Airlines starts its own branded airport taxi service
To capture much needed ancillary revenues, airlines are increasingly cross-selling hotel reservations, car rental bookings and travel insurance to passengers. Austrian Airlines has taken this approach a step further by launching its own branded taxi service in Vienna. Read more…
Most popular articles on airlinetrends.com in 2011 (so far)
15 August 2011 | Suggested holiday reading for those who have been too busy to catch up with the latest trends and innovations in the past weeks or even months: The 11 trends, product or service innovations that the readers of airlinetrends.com have found most interesting in the first 30 weeks of 2011.
1. Air New Zealand tops airlinetrends.com’s 2011 list of innovative airlines
Having redesigned its long-haul in-flight experience from scratch, Air New Zealand tops airlinetrends.com’s 2011 ranking of most innovative airlines in the world. Some of the innovations the airline has launched include ‘Skycouches’ in Economy, ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ Spaceseats in Premium Economy, food and drinks ordering via the IFE system, an in-flight concierge hosting wine tastings and storytelling for kids in the galley. Read more…
2. Lufthansa’s new 747-400 First Class consists of a seat and a separate bed
Lufthansa has opted for an unusual design for the First Class upgrade on its B747-400s. Instead of installing new seats, Lufthansa will remove all window seats in the First Class cabin, replace it with a permanent flat bed, offering each passenger two seats instead: a seat as well as a separate bed. Read more…
3. Asia’s full-service airlines go low-cost
Asia’s V-shaped recovery from the global financial crisis has triggered a boom among budget airlines in the region. With the Asian skies increasingly becoming more liberalized and competition from low-cost carriers getting stronger, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines all have recently announced the launch of their own low-cost airlines. Read more… Read full article »
Latest high-speed trains in Asia offer airline-like business class cabins
13 July 2011 | The advantages of high-speed rail have been well documented. Compared with flying, travelling by fast train offers city-center to city-center connections, no need for checked baggage, or repeated queuing for security and boarding. Also, trains are not prone to delays caused by bad weather, slow baggage handling, crowded runways and air traffic. Research has shown that business travellers are willing to travel to destinations by rail for up to 4 hours, while leisure travellers are even prepared to use trains for journeys of up to 6 hours.
In an effort to make rail travel even more attractive for business travellers, high-speed rail operators in China and Japan have recently introduced airline-like business class cabins on their latest fast trains.
Beijing – Shanghai ‘Harmony Express’
China is in the process of building the world’s largest high-speed network in record time, with rapid passenger lines already criss-crossing much of the country. The recently opened Beijing to Shanghai high-speed railway is the latest portion of a network the government hopes will stretch 45,000 km (27,960 miles) by the end of 2015. Construction of the 1,318 kilometre (819 mile) high-speed rail connection between Beijing and Shanghai began in April 2008 and track laying was completed only 2,5 years later in November 2010. The USD33 billion rail line has been operating on a trial basis since mid-May and was officially opened at the end of June 2011.
Onboard experience
Besides second and first class cars, the Beijing – Shanghai Harmony Express features a business class car with 24 lie-down seats with a nearly full recline. Each seat is equipped with a foldable LCD TV, a tray table, socket and reading lamp. Travellers are waited on by uniformed stewardesses and even the galley area and restroom have been upgraded.
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Most popular articles on airlinetrends.com in the first half of 2011
2 July 2011 | For those who have been too busy to catch up with the latest trends and innovations in the past weeks or even months, here are the 11 trends, product or service innovations that the readers of airlinetrends.com have found most interesting in the first six months of 2011.
1. Air New Zealand tops airlinetrends.com’s 2011 list of most innovative airlines
Having redesigned its long-haul in-flight experience from scratch, Air New Zealand tops airlinetrends.com’s 2011 ranking of most innovative airlines in the world. Some of the innovations the airline has launched include ‘Skycouches’ in Economy, ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ Spaceseats in Premium Economy, food and drinks ordering via the IFE system, an in-flight concierge hosting wine tastings and storytelling for kids in the galley. Read more…
2. Lufthansa’s new 747-400 First Class consists of a seat and a separate bed
Lufthansa has opted for an unusual design for the First Class upgrade on its B747-400s. Instead of installing new seats, Lufthansa will remove all window seats in the First Class cabin, replace it with a permanent flat bed, offering each passenger two seats instead: a seat as well as a separate bed. Read more…
3. Asia’s full-service airlines go low-cost
Asia’s V-shaped recovery from the global financial crisis has triggered a boom among budget airlines in the region. With the Asian skies increasingly becoming more liberalized and competition from low-cost carriers getting stronger, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines all have recently announced the launch of their own low-cost airlines. Read more…
4. Boeing uses 787 Dreamliner cabin design to upgrade 737 and 747 interiors
In just 12 months time, Boeing will have introduced 3 new cabin interiors on respectively its new 747-800 Intercontinental, 737 Next Generation and the 787 Dreamliner. The new 737 and 747 interiors are based on design elements of Boeing’s forthcoming 787, such as a curved, airier, architecture, larger overhead bins and moodlighting. Read more…
5. How airlines can use their heritage to add a story to the travel experience
‘Heritage Luxury’ is one of the main trends in luxury today, as luxury brands emphasize their history and craftmanship to appeal to more reflective consumers in uncertain economic times. Several airlines are using this ‘Heritage Luxury’ theme as a source of inspiration for new products and services. Read more…
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Innovative airlines 2011: #4 Delta Air Lines
17 January 2011 | Delta has earned its 4th place because of its massive USD 2 billion investment program (through mid-2013) to upgrade its ground and inflight experiences, as well as introduce some innovative services. Having completed the integration of Northwest, which it acquired in 2008, Delta has shifted its focus towards drastically improving the customer experience, stating that “addressing gaps in customer product, technology, facilities and fleet is key to generating superior revenues and returns.”
In-flight: Full-flat seats, Premium Economy, Wi-Fi
Since September 2009, Delta has been upgrading its long-haul business class to offer full-flat beds. By June 2011, half of its long-haul fleet will be upgraded and by mid-2012, Delta will offer full flat-bed seats on its fleet of over 100 trans-oceanic aircraft. The airline will also be the first customer to install Panasonic and Weber’s integrated lightweight touchscreen IFE and slim carbon fibre economy seat on 16 former Northwest B47-400s in mid-2011.
Furthermore, Delta will reportedly introduce a Premium Economy cabin in 2011. Since the gap between the carrier’s premium and economy class has increased because of its upgrade to flat-beds, there is room for a value-for-money alternative in between. The new class is likely to resemble United’s Economy Plus or KLM’s Economy Comfort offerings, which are essentially normal economy seats with increased leg room.
In November 2010, Delta completed the installation of inflight Wi-Fi on all 549 mainline domestic aircraft, the largest number of ‘connected aircraft’ by far. The carrier also recently announced plans to add Wi-Fi to 223 regional jet aircraft operated by Delta Connection carriers. Last but not least, Delta just revealed it is considering an order of 100 to 200 narrowbody aircraft — possibly with options for 200 more — to replace its aging domestic fleet, with deliveries to begin in early 2013. Read full article »
Top 10 most popular trends and innovations stories on airlinetrends.com in 2010
23 December 2010 | For those who want to catch up with the trends and innovations our readers have found most interesting in the past year, here are the “Top 10 most popular trends and innovation stories on airlinetrends.com in 2010”. We’d also like to point you to this recent MSNBC article, which reports how innovative inflight amenities are making a comeback on airlines and features several insights from airlinetrends.com. To ensure you will start the year with a healthy dose of innovation, we will return in the new year with our list of “11 innovative airlines to keep an eye on in 2011.” In the meantime, we wish all of you a great holiday season!
1. KLM surprises passengers with little acts of kindness
Combining social media with real-world interactions, KLM has created a ‘Surprise Team’ at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport which randomly surprises passengers that have checked-in at KLM venues on Foursquare with ‘little acts of kindness’ based on their social network profiles or previous tweets. Read more…
2. Monocle creates the perfect airline: Nippon Nordic Air
In its continuous quest for the world’s best designs, products and services, global affairs magazine Monocle has created its blueprint dream airline: ‘Nippon Nordic Air’. The imaginary carrier combines the flying skills of Canada’s best pilots, the design ingenuity of Sweden and Japan and the gracious service of a Kyoto ryokan. Read more…
3. Finnair goes on an upcycling spree
Following earlier initiatives by KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic, Finnair is the latest airline to ‘upcycle’ discarded uniforms, seat covers, seatbelts, curtains and even IFE systems into stylish shopping totes, toilet bags and LED lamps. Read more…
4. Premium economy gains further ground on long-haul flights
With company travel budgets squeezed during the economic downturn, and expectations across the industry that more austere travellers are here to stay, a growing number of airlines are adding a Premium Economy class to their aircraft. This ‘value for money’ hybrid class between economy and business appeals to cost-conscious business travellers as well as wealthier leisure travellers. Read more…
5. Qantas unveils ‘next generation’ check-in for its frequent flyers
Qantas is providing frequent flyers with a new smart loyalty card which can be used for check-in and self-boarding with just a swipe across a card reader. Premium Qantas customers will also receive a RIFD-based bag tag that replaces the printed baggage tag. Read more…
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