Runway Girl

A collective of aviation journalists from around the world delivering intelligence about the diverse airline passenger experience.

11/09/2024

KLM has invested heavily in a digital customer service experience that emphasizes consumer choice and rapid responses. This means that, when things go wrong, passengers are usually kept informed of developments to their journey in a timely manner.

This summer, on a flight operated by KLM wet-lease partner Eastern Airways from Teesside airport to Amsterdam, the SkyTeam Alliance member’s digital investments were put to the test.

Full trip report: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/11/klm-digital-customer-service-largely-shines-even-as-partner-fumbles/

Images + report by Fintan Horan-Stear for RGN

11/07/2024

Breeze Airways mulls catering options as it looks to stretch its wings on international routes https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/11/breeze-airways-mulls-catering-options-as-it-looks-to-stretch-its-wings/

11/04/2024

We do not live in a fully accessible world. My brother was born with a neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He never walked, and was dependent on his electric wheelchair, which served as his legs.

He used to say, “My disease doesn’t make me disabled, the world does. Everyone can take a ramp; not everyone can take the stairs.”

Whilst trains and buses provide a place for wheelchairs to park onboard, we make no such accommodation in aircraft cabins. As a result, many disabled passengers are excluded from air travel or denied a dignified flying experience.

It's high time we change the narrative. Op-Ed by Becca Alkema https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/11/make-space-onboard-aircraft-for-wheelchair-users/

11/04/2024

Finnair is unusual within the oneworld alliance in that it operates a first class-level lounge without offering first class onboard its flights and has thus created the lounge entirely for its top-tier Platinum and Platinum Lumo frequent flyers.

It’s called the Platinum Wing, it welcomes some 155 people across several distinct areas in the longhaul/non-Schengen area of the terminal, and I found it highly impressive on a recent Helsinki connection (full disclosure: the airline provided tickets to enable me to experience the product).

Uniquely, the lounge has a sauna, mixed genders, and I’m told by a Finnish pal that the löyly (sauna steam) is very good.

There’s also a small relaxation area with a welcome bucket of iced soft drinks — the Finnish cultural experience of a saunaolut post-sauna beer both with and without alcohol are available to take with you into the relaxation area from the bar. This area also has shower rooms, bookable via a tablet embedded into the wall outside each one.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/11/finnair-platinum-wing-lounge-in-hel-is-almost-heaven/

11/04/2024

Having taken up the mantle to bring the Air4All onboard wheelchair securement system through engineering development and manufacturing, Delta Flight Products (DFP) is eyeing supplemental type certification (STC), likely on a narrowbody aircraft type, in the “very near term”.

“I think some of you may have seen where FAA came out a week or so ago and posted what their timeline is for being able to come to a conclusion on restraint systems on aircraft. Hugh! Really huge news that they have progressed to that point already," DFP product innovation manager Tyler Anderson told attendees at the APEX Global EXPO in Long Beach.

"And I know that at Delta Flight Products, the Air4All product is in qualification, and we will be looking to certification in the very near future. So, as soon as the FAA wants to say ‘go’ we’re going to be ready."

A groundbreaking product, Air4ALL will enable powered wheelchair users to travel safely and with dignity whilst seated in their own chair onboard aircraft, and is being offered in both business class and economy class models.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/11/delta-flight-products-eyes-near-term-certification-of-air4all/

11/01/2024

Love this air freshener hack in the lavatory aboard LAX-IAD. 😊

11/01/2024

Iberia has taken delivery of its first extra-long-range A321XLR, becoming the launch operator of the world’s newest single-aisle aircraft.

The Spanish flag carrier will operate the new twinjet on several regional flights across its European network — starting with Madrid-Paris on 6 November — before pressing it into service on its first transatlantic mission from Madrid to Boston.

Capable of flying up to 11 hours, the A321XLR’s debut at Iberia is hotly anticipated by aviation enthusiasts, who are lining up to get onboard the first flight.

Boasting Airbus’ Airspace cabin with the signature extra-large, flip-up XL Bin and ‘Hero’ lighting, Iberia’s dual-class, 182-seat A321XLR features lie-flat seats in a 1-1 configuration up front.

When airlines like Iberia adopt two-abreast layouts with direct-aisle-access business class seats on the A321XLR, “it feels like a private jet,” Airbus vice president cabin marketing Ingo Wuggetzer told journalists this week at the APEX Global EXPO in Long Beach.

He said airlines are also customizing the Hero light to fit their brands, but that Airbus defers to its customers, including Iberia, to reveal details when ready.

Eager to bring some commonality to the rest of its A320 family of aircraft, Iberia will begin updating its narrowbodies with Airbus’ ‘light-refit‘ Airspace L Bin retrofit solution — manufactured by EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH) — starting in the first quarter of 2025, Wuggetzer revealed at the show.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/iberia-takes-first-a321xlr-will-retrofit-narrowbodies-with-l-bins/

10/31/2024

Congratulations to Thales for winning a Crystal Cabin Award — in the Best Customer Journey Experience category — for its suite of IFE accessibility solutions! And hats off to all the finalists and winners of this evening’s APEX/IFSA Awards in Long Beach!🥇

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to accommodate an interview this week at the APEX Global EXPO and the FTE show. Since it’s almost Thursday, here’s a wee snap from the 2022 EXPO, when my daughter Reilly joined me. ❤️

10/29/2024

Exploring Letronics’ new PRM Transfer Lift for boarding passengers with reduced mobility. The solution, which is billed as providing a comfortable and dignified transfer experience, has debuted here at the APEX Global EXPO in Long Beach.

10/28/2024

Unveiling the final piece of its longhaul passenger experience puzzle, Qantas is installing Recaro R3 economy seats — formerly the CL3810 — aboard the Airbus A330 aircraft that it intends to retain through the middle of the 2030s.

Qantas international chief executive officer Cam Wallace explains that “they’re the same seats that will feature on our ultra long haul A350-1000ULR aircraft, so it will be a preview of the Project Sunrise flying experience.” Wallace does, of course, gloss over the differences in seat width between the A330 and the A350, making this perhaps the Project Astronomical Dawn in advance of Project Sunrise.

Qantas will start the refurb work next year at its in-house maintenance facilities in Brisbane, and expects the first refitted aircraft to be in service by the end of calendar 2025. It then hopes that the entire refurbished fleet will be back in service by the end of 2026, but this will of course be dependent on the creaking aircraft interiors supply chain.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/qantas-plans-new-recaro-r3s-for-sunrise-preview-a330s/

All images credited to Qantas

10/26/2024

Disability rights advocates have applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation's decision to levy a $50 million fine against American Airlines for its failure to provide “safe, dignified and prompt” wheelchair assistance — and for mishandling passengers’ wheelchairs.

The penalty, announced by US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, is 25 times larger than any previous DOT penalty against an airline for violating disability regulation.

“This isn’t just a number; it’s a sign that the era of neglecting disabled travelers is coming to an end,” says Sophie Morgan, founder of Rights on Flights, a campaign aimed at combatting accessibility and safety barriers for disabled travelers.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/disability-rights-groups-applaud-massive-dot-fine-against-american/

10/24/2024

Eurostar, which merged with Thalys in January 2023, now operates the overwhelming majority of trains linking London, Paris and Brussels, with a few other destinations included as well.

Boasting a new logo and revised font, Eurostar is in the process of merging the brands. For regular travelers, there was hope that this branding work would lead to a broader revamp of the high-speed trains across Eurostar’s services. However, on a recent trip from London to Brussels, no significant improvements were observed. Indeed, it was apparent that these trains are in need of a refurb.

Full report: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/new-logo-same-train-a-eurostar-standard-premier-review/

10/22/2024

Qatar Airways has fitted SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation inflight connectivity solution to a Boeing 777-300ER (A7-BEV) and become the first airline in the world to fly the aircraft variant with the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-powered IFC service.

The Doha-London flight took place today, on 22 October 2024, and bears the distinction of also being the first Starlink-equipped passenger aircraft to fly in the MENA region.

“Passengers can now stay entertained and connected throughout their journey, streaming their favourite shows and live sports, enjoying online gaming, or working seamlessly at 35,000 feet — all completely free of charge,” says Qatar Airways in a statement which it published in-flight via Starlink on the 777.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/qatar-airways-flies-first-777-with-starlink-divulges-equipage-plan/

10/16/2024

Cathay Pacific is today unveiling its new Aria business class suites in Hong Kong, with the first of its refitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft ready to take to the skies later this week.

The airline’s general manager for customer experience and design Vivian Lo confirms to Runway Girl Network that the seat is manufactured by Collins Aerospace, and we thus presume it is part of the Elements family.

Aria is an outward-facing herringbone pod that reclines to flat, outfitted in a series of light brown neutrals with accents in a creamy, pale green that’s a less-saturated version of the previous Cathay business palette, yet still identifiable enough to provide brand continuity.

Full report: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/cathays-new-aria-business-breaks-cover-as-elegant-mini-suite/

All images credited to Cathay Pacific

10/15/2024

The latest salvo in the US air carrier premium travel arms race has been fired, and this time it’s Delta with a full-fleet refresh of the colour, materials and finish (CMF) inside its cabins, as well as new branding elements across its interiors.

Delta says this new look covers its “four branded cabins”, although the carrier mentions (and shows) updates to five in its materials: Delta ONE business, Delta Premium Select premium economy, First Class domestic narrowbody, Delta Comfort+ extra-legroom economy, and Main Cabin regular economy.

Of note in this context is a coalescing of the look and feel for the domestic first class and longhaul Premium Select premium economy brands: a new seat cover with the thick red cheatline will feature “breathable engineered leather” over memory foam cushions, and Delta refers to them both in practically the same breath. Does this have wider repercussions for the two cabin brands?

Full report: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/delta-goes-darker-moodiercmf/

All images credited to Delta Air Lines

10/13/2024

United is in an arms race with Delta to become the most premium airline in America. Here’s what to expect aboard United’s 737 MAX 8s with the new Next interior.

https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/united-airlines-next-boeing-max/

Report + images by Jason Rabinowitz

10/10/2024

Japan’s latest Shinkansen bullet train started rolling down the tracks this spring, with a stunning new cabin, faster travel times, and substantial passenger experience improvements — and Runway Girl Network was on board shortly after operations began.

Operated by JR East, the E8 Series train runs north from Tokyo to the mountainous north-central rural province of Yamagata, and will cut travel times thanks to its increased top speed over the E3 Series, which it replaces.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/jr-easts-new-e8-shinkansen/

Report + images by John Walton for RGN

10/10/2024

London Oxford Airport has long been the home of Airbus Helicopters UK, with the company expanding into several buildings over the years, including hangars dating from 1948.

On 13 September 2024, that particular era came to an end when Airbus Helicopters UK welcomed industry and government guests, the media and a very significant VIP to the official opening of its new HQ building on the campus.

Purpose built to offer ground floor space of 11,700m2, the facility meets the most stringent environmental standards. London Oxford is serious about sustainability and the new access road to the Airbus site takes traffic directly past OXCCU’s new plant, where sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is being created out of CO2 and hydrogen.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/10/airbus-helicopters-uk/

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On 25 April, Lufthansa hosted an exclusive Lufthansa Allegris Preview Press Event, where it welcomed journalists on board a brand new A350-900 fitted with the carrier's new Allegris longhaul cabins. Runway Girl Network covered the event as a guest of the airline. Here's what we learned! Music: Clean Success by Boomer, licensed through PremiumBeat by Shutterstock

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Runway Girl Network is a collective of aviation journalists from around the world delivering intelligence about the diverse airline passenger experience, known as #PaxEx on Twitter and Instagram. The news outlet also highlights the achievements of women in aviation, promotes equality, and celebrates culture, compassion and diversity.