Discover the journey redefined with Play Airlines, a new Icelandic low-cost airline operating flights from Iceland to North America and Europe. My guest today is Adrian Keating, Executive Director Commercial at Play Airlines. Adrian will unravel how Play Airlines is challenging the norms of travel, marrying modesty with monumental strides in service and ingenuity. Offering insights into the trailblazing budget-friendly airline, we talk about the recently launched 'Space seat' - a game-changer offering passengers of the low-cost carrier the luxury of extra space onboard the aircraft.

In the dynamic world of aviation, Play Airlines stands out as a youthful contender with a small fleet, unburdened by the constraints of legacy. This freedom enables innovation, through rapid experimentation and adaptation. Whether it's the flexible 'Space seat' offering, the curated onboard Icelandic experiences or the new stop over options, Play Airlines is redefining travel norms, proving that a small low-cost airline can indeed deliver on experience at an affordable price.

Navigating beyond the dramatic landscapes and geological marvels of Iceland, Adrian will also delve into the complexities that seismic activity brings to the region's tourism landscape. We'll explore how Play Airlines maneuvers through the tremors of sensational media narratives, ensuring that Iceland remains a captivating, accessible destination for adventurers worldwide.

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This episode of On Your Flight Today is brought to you by IFECtiv, an inflight entertainment and connectivity consulting company. Dedicated to elevating the aviation industry's inflight entertainment products and experiences for airlines and suppliers. Visit www.IFECtiv.aero to learn more!

To sponsor an episode or advertise on the On Your Flight Today podcast, visit the show website: www.onyourflighttoday.com

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Delve into the intriguing world of aviation safety videos, focusing particularly on Qantas’s recent release. Our guest, Teri O'Toole, is a veteran Qantas long-haul flight attendant and a barrister at law, currently leading the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia (FAAA). Teri brings a unique perspective, blending her inflight experience with legal expertise to represent 6.5K+ flight attendants in Australia.

The primary discussion revolves around the new Qantas Safety Video launched in January 2024. This video, while cinematically impressive, has sparked a debate over its effectiveness as a safety tool versus its role as a marketing instrument. Despite its high production value and storytelling, it’s criticized for lacking in clear, vital safety information. Teri highlights the omission of crucial instructions like following cabin crew directions in emergencies, a fundamental safety message.

This episode contrasts Qantas's approach with other airlines, such as Japan Airlines. Their safety video, particularly relevant in the wake of a successful evacuation of a JAL A350, has been lauded for its clarity and effectiveness. The contrast lies in the use of animation and direct communication of consequences for not following safety instructions – a sharp deviation from Qantas’s more abstract and visually-driven narrative.

Gain insights into an OYFT-organized focus group, which collected feedback from Australian and US passengers on the Qantas video. The responses varied, with some finding it more of a travel inspiration piece than a safety guide. This feedback aligns with Teri’s observations and the general sentiment among cabin crew – that the video, while aesthetically pleasing, strays from its primary purpose of educating passengers about safety protocols.

Delving deeper, the episode explores the implications of using such videos for brand marketing, raising questions about the balance between engaging passengers and ensuring they understand essential safety procedures. Teri’s unique background in law and aviation adds depth to this analysis, especially when discussing the legal and safety obligations airlines have towards their passengers and crew.

Teri speaks about the need for safety videos to support cabin crew in their critical role during emergencies. The conversation brings to light the complexity of safety instructions, the need for clarity, and the importance of passenger awareness of these instructions. She emphasizes the need for airlines to strike a balance between creative storytelling and the clear conveyance of safety information, suggesting that airlines should consult more with their crew and safety experts when producing these videos.

A thought-provoking look into the aviation industry’s challenges in communicating safety procedures effectively while trying to engage a diverse passenger demographic.

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This episode of On Your Flight Today is brought to you by IFECtiv, an inflight entertainment and connectivity consulting company. Dedicated to elevating the aviation industry's inflight entertainment products and experiences for airlines and suppliers. Visit www.IFECtiv.aero to learn more!

To sponsor an episode or advertise on the On Your Flight Today podcast, visit the show website: www.onyourflighttoday.com

www.onyourflighttoday.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyourflighttoday
https://www.youtube.com/@onyourflighttoday
https://twitter.com/YourFlightToday

As technology continues to advance and the demand for a personalized passenger experience surges, the realms of Airline Loyalty and In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) are progressively merging. The organizational structure of an airline to support its Loyalty and IFEC lines of business varies by the geographic origin of the airline and the competitive landscape it competes in. Within the International Airlines Group (IAG), the IAG Loyalty business is fundamental in creating the IFEC experience for countless passengers, serving as a technology partner to the IAG group's airlines, that include British Airways, Vueling, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Level.

On today’s episode, I am joined by Mark Cheyney, IFEC Strategy, Performance and Operations Manager from IAG Loyalty. Mark will share some interesting insights into the strategy and operational dynamics of IAG Connect, the team that functions as the technological backbone, seamlessly integrating IFEC solutions with each of the five airlines under the IAG umbrella. This deep dive will reveal the complexities and challenges of managing technology solutions across diverse airline brands and multiple IFEC suppliers. 

We talk about tradeoffs, we weigh up the pros and cons of developing in-house IFEC solutions versus vendor solutions. Mark sheds light on the strategic considerations that go into these decisions, including cost, customization, and control over the end-user experience. 

Mark also holds the role of Chair for the Personalization Working Group within the Seamless Air Alliance, where he serves as an expert group leader. As the industry's buzz around personalization of the passenger experience continues to grow, we'll also discuss some of the challenges with personalization, including identifying different passenger personas and navigating stringent privacy laws. As you'll soon discover, personalization is a lot more complex than it appears.

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This episode of On Your Flight Today is brought to you by IFECtiv, an inflight entertainment and connectivity consulting company. Dedicated to elevating the aviation industry's inflight entertainment products and experiences for airlines and suppliers. Visit www.IFECtiv.aero to learn more!

To sponsor an episode or advertise on the On Your Flight Today podcast, visit the show website: www.onyourflighttoday.com 

www.onyourflighttoday.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyourflighttoday
https://www.youtube.com/@onyourflighttoday
https://twitter.com/YourFlightToday