#paxex Podcast

In this episode we discuss Airbus’ decision to re-certify its A320 to accommodate nine more seats for a total 189-seats, and how this development – which will be accomplished by adding wider evacuation slides – is driving fresh conversation about slim seats and seat pitch. French manufacturer Expliseat, for instance, believes its super-light titanium/composite seat would suit operators of higher-capacity A320s, and has suggested that some carriers might consider a mixture of seats pitched at 27 inches and 28 inches. We also chat with Green about what the future holds for inflight entertainment. The operative word here is “choice”. Says Green, “In terms of how the content is provided, we have to meet the desire for individual choice and an expectation to manage your own experience. So that includes delivery to personal devices, not just through seat-back screen.” Thales is laying the groundwork to allow passengers to manage their own experience in how and when they consume the content. Passenger choice is cer

Welcome to Episode 013 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode we discuss IATA's latest findings about unruly passengers, and consider how alcohol plays a major role in many incidents. We address whether airport bartenders could be more proactive about not serving clearly intoxicated passengers pre-flight, and how crew are trained to try and diffuse air rage incidents when they do happen on board. We also chat about United Airlines' recent decision to back down from a controversial ban on booze for flight attendants, and Nik gives us his perspective about empowering crew. And we take a fresh look at the hazards that crew must grapple with, including onboard fires. Last but not least, Nik shares his knowledge of foodie trends in-flight, and asks us to consider the challenges faced by airlines as they serve up meals to 300 passengers. Nik also suggests we view inflight dining as its own form of entertainment, and he makes us look at those little packets of cheese in a whole new way!

Welcome to Episode 012 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode we talk about restraining unruly passengers in the cabin. What must crew observe - and what protocol must they follow - before strapping plastic handcuffs on passengers? Pittman and Topham give us the low down in advance of IATA's first-ever Cabin Safety Operations Conference in Madrid. We also discuss Inmarsat's proposal to arm crew with a 'satcom flare' - aka a distress signal - in the wake of the tragic disappearance of MH370. Would cabin crew welcome this sort of "panic button"? Finally, we look at how AT&T is going for Gogo's jugular by jumping into the inflight connectivity market with a planned new 4G LTE-based air-to-ground system. We address the issue from a financial perspective as well as a #PaxEx perspective. Is it any wonder why crew and passengers are eager to see if AT&T can deliver a better product?

Welcome to Episode 011 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode we discuss Gogo’s new global Ku-band connectivity service for airlines (details of which were released today – one day after our recording). We also look at the mega aircraft interiors boon occurring in the aviation industry, as a result of bulging aircraft order books, and why this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo is bigger and better than ever. But can the interiors sector keep pace with demand, especially demand for customized seats and galleys? We discuss what’s happening, and what can be done. Finally, Seth Miller has written a killer piece about loyalty cuts. We ask him why being loyal to ourselves – over airlines – makes sense for infrequent travelers.

Welcome to episode 010 of the #PaxEx Podcast. Our guest this week is Jason Rabinowitz, who writes for numerous #AvGeek and #PaxEx publications, and researches #PaxEx data for flight search and review site Routehappy. As we all know, passenger safety is the most important part of the passenger experience. That’s why we’ve dedicated today’s podcast to discussing the disappearance of MH370. Jason has been tracking developments since Malaysia Airlines announced that ATC had lost contact with the 777. In this episode he gives us an update on where things stand. We also address how an aircraft can just disappear in 2014. And we discuss what is holding the industry back from streaming black box data. It's clear that MH370 is going to invoke change in this regard. Also, social media is having a profound impact on how aircraft accidents and incidents are covered. Jason’s colleague at Routehappy, John Walton, was among the very first people to break news of the Ethiopian Airlines ET702 hijacking on Twitter. We talk to

Welcome to episode 009 of the #PaxEx Podcast. Ancillary fees are fairly new for the Latin American market, but Volaris passengers will need to start getting used to them. Now that Volaris has migrated to a new reservations system, the carrier is banking on a new ancillary revenue scheme to expand its ability to develop non-ticket sales. In this episode, Ghim-Lay updates us on Volaris’ plan and considers it in the broader context of how ultra low-cost carriers are growing. Speaking of LCCs, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary made headlines this week when he promised that the carrier would eventually offer $10 flights across the Atlantic. Yes, we’ve heard O’Leary make these claims before, but co-hosts Max Flight and Mary Kirby join Ghim in addressing the question - are we seeing a race to the bottom in terms of both fares and the passenger experience (#PaxEx)? They also discuss whether the introduction of Wi-Fi on LCC carriers might lure more business travelers to LCCs. On the inflight connectivity front, Delta Air Li

Welcome to episode 008 of the #PaxEx Podcast. On this week's show we look at how Virgin Atlantic is now getting “up close and personal” with passengers, by having concierges at its Upper Class lounge at Heathrow wear Google Glass. Is this a gimmick or is Virgin Atlantic really onto something here? Has 'Big Brother' officially arrived, and aren't we 'opting in' with voracious social media use? Our guest, Gavin, recently wrote an OpEd for the #PaxEx Forum on Runway Girl Network that references another Virgin brand, Virgin America. Gavin did some data mining, and has drawn the conclusion that Virgin America faces some very serious challenges ahead. We discuss the vast amount of premium capacity being thrown at the transcon market, and whether US majors and JetBlue will - like a pride of lions attacking a Gazelle - go for the kill. We also talk about how connectivity has become a very important competitive factor, and why it's essential for Gogo's ground to orbit (GTO) system to be flying on Virgin America soon.

Welcome to episode 007 of the #PaxEx Podcast. On this week's show, we look at how Ryanair is - gasp - finally getting very social with passengers, and we consider whether this complete shift in strategy will benefit the airline or strip it of its irreligious originality. We also dive into a 2001 study uncovered by Marisa Garcia about aircraft seat safety. The study, commissioned by the UK CAA, suggests that seats should be at least 19.6 inches wide to ensure passenger safety. Interestingly, the study went largely unnoticed due to the 9/11 attacks. Is it time for regulators to look at seat standards again? We think so. We also take the opportunity to ask Marisa about airbags in seat belts, and how airlines are using this mechanism to add more slimline seats to their aircraft. Finally, we discuss why IATA has warned the industry about the importance of ensuring cyber-security of aircraft and aircraft systems,. A groundbreaking new AirInsight study reveals that most airlines do not have a cyber-security plan for

Welcome to episode 006 of the #PaxEx Podcast. Benet has written a piece titled “10 passengers you don’t want to see at the airport or on your flight”, and it is generating plenty of discussion on social media and forums. In this episode, we talk to Benet about how passenger etiquette is diminishing while tensions are rising in-flight. We've previously explored how aircraft seats are getting smaller while passengers are getting larger, but in this episode we take the opportunity to talk to Benet - who self-identifies as a 'passenger of size' - about her personal experiences, how weight is a deterrent to travel, and also how the issue is also impacting her pilot lessons. Last but not least, we discuss whether or not there are barriers to entry for women in aviation, and consider opportunities for breaking into the field. We also ask Benet to table advice to young girls and women who may be considering entering the industry.

Welcome to episode 005 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode, we talk to Joe about his "I don't care" list, which details his gripes about the airline industry and the passenger experience. He suggests that airline C-level management teams "live in a bubble", and will make aircraft seats even tighter in the coming years. Next we explore the viability of the current inflight connectivity model. At present, most airlines are charging for inflight connectivity, but passengers want Wi-Fi for free. At the same time, passengers' appetites for bandwidth are growing, yet most connectivity systems don't have the capacity to support high-bandwidth functionality. Last but not least, we discuss how major airlines and #PaxEx corporations are micro-managing their messaging (and creating their own branded media); and the lack of transparency in the aircraft interiors industry. We consider what this paradigm means for journalists, the traveling public and, ultimately, passenger safety.

Welcome to episode 004 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode, we consider whether American Airlines has set a new standard with its new Airbus "A321T" transcontinental service. Next, we look at aircraft seating. It’s no secret that economy class seats are getting smaller and tighter while passengers are getting taller and wider. And a letter of complaint by a Jetstar passenger recently brought the issue back into the headlines in a big way. We discuss safety concerns and look at airlines' options going forward. And last but not least, we take a studied look at the current air travel distribution landscape, and find out from Henry if IATA's controversial New Distribution Capability or “NDC” project for airlines will pick up steam.

Welcome to episode 003 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode, we look at why American Airlines has garnered the distinction of being named Jaunted’s 2013 Airline of the Year. We discuss what American is doing right in the #PaxEx space, and why. We also delve into the topic of in-seat inflight entertainment - why those screens are still so prevalent in-flight, and how they are being used to distract passengers from super-snug seating configurations. Finally, we look at how social media is having a big impact on our travel preferences and, importantly, our travel spend.

Welcome to Episode 002 of the #PaxEx Podcast. In this episode we talk about how Airbus is quietly developing a new cabin for the A320 - a move that will help it better compete with the Boeing Sky Interior on the 737NG. We discuss what this means for passengers as well as the competitive aircraft interiors landscape. Plus we look at how airline loyalty programs are losing their luster for travelers, and consider the practical applications for commercial drones in the face of Amazon's proposed drone-based delivery system.

Welcome to Episode 001 of the #PaxEx Podcast. We’re delighted to announce that Runway Girl Network founder and editor Mary Kirby has teamed with industry veteran Max Flight, of Airplane Geeks Podcast fame, to co-cost these regular shows, which will cover virtually every aspect of the passenger experience. Our first guest is Routehappy director of data John Walton, an aviation geek through and through, and a leading thinker in the world of #PaxEx. In this episode, Mary and John talk about their shared experience in testing JetBlue’s brand new inflight Wi-Fi service, Fly-Fi, which could be a game-changer in the industry. More broadly, Mary, Max and John explore the ‘connectivity conundrum’ currently being debated in the United States. A majority of airline passengers seem to be vehemently opposed to allowing inflight voice calls, but their opposition on this matter has served to stall the introduction of inflight mobile text and data. Can a middle ground be reached? We also look at how Ryanair is improving the