Singapore Airlines launches in-flight e-shopping: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will become the first airline to offer live online shopping on board its aircraft from 28 June 2021, when the KrisShop e-commerce platform becomes available via the KrisWorld in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. This service will initially be available on selected Airbus A350 aircraft, and progressively rolled out across the SIA network. Customers will be able to choose from more than 4,000 products across a wide range of categories including exclusive airline merchandise, beauty products, fragrances, electronics, and liquor. They will enjoy duty-free prices on orders that are delivered on their next Singapore Airlines flight. Customers can also choose to have their purchases delivered directly to their homes. SIA and KrisShop are working with AirFree, Thales, and Panasonic Avionics to offer this all-new in-flight e-shopping experience for its customers. It leverages an industry-first air-to-ground connectivity technology, which connects KrisShop directly to the aircraft IFE system and enables both live updates on product availability and credit card authorisation.
Cebu Pacific starting new change policy: Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest carrier, will be implementing a new policy for passengers who want to make voluntary changes to their flights, in line with the continuous streamlining of processes across the business. Starting 1 July, Travel Funds for voluntary flight changes will now only be available if passengers have purchased CEB Flexi during initial booking on the CEB website or mobile app. With CEB Flexi, passengers may cancel flight bookings for free, up to two hours before departure, and store value of booking in a Travel Fund valid for two years. Passengers without CEB Flexi can still continue to enjoy unlimited rebooking, following CEB’s permanent removal of change fees in March. A minimal fare difference may apply. The Travel Fund, valid for two years, can be used to book flights up to 12 months ahead, or purchase other add-ons such as seat selection, additional baggage allowance, or travel insurance, given that transactions are done before the fund expires.
Air New Zealand enters new cargo route: Air New Zealand cargo flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles will soon be taking off after the airline was awarded the route as part of the Australian government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) programme. The airline will operate one flight per week until 31 October 2021, with the first flight bound for Melbourne on 3 July. This will be in addition to the Brisbane – Los Angeles flying the airline has been doing since August 2020 under the same scheme. Air New Zealand General Manager Cargo Anna Palairet says this will be the first time the airline has flown the route, and with the limited international flying currently happening, adding a new route to the mix is positive. “This service will help Australian exporters get high-value, time-sensitive perishable exports to global markets and assist with importing nationally important goods to Australia. Over the next four months, the route will open the potential for nearly 1,000 tonnes to be moved between Melbourne and Los Angeles.”
Textron Aviation launches new operations apprenticeship programme: Following the successful launch of its Tooling Apprenticeship program in 2020, Textron Aviation is growing its collaborative “earn and learn” employment opportunities with a new Numeric Controls (NC) Technician Apprenticeship opportunity. Applications are now open for entry level technicians interested in getting paid to expand their skills and experience to join the Textron Aviation team of highly skilled people who manufacture the iconic Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft. Candidates accepted into the programme will receive both factory and classroom training and will be Textron Aviation employees with benefits and salary. In a typical week, apprentices will divide their time attending training at WSU Tech and working with assigned mentors at Textron Aviation production facilities. The company will also pay for the related tuition and fees to participate in the program through WSU Tech. “This new apprenticeship provides quality education and training to participants, while allowing them to earn a paycheck,” said Maggie Topping, senior vice president, HR and Communications. “This program further cements our dedication to educational and community partnerships that benefit the company and the region.”
SkySelect signs TAP Air Portugal: SkySelect, an extended purchasing arm for aircraft material powered by smart algorithms and robotic process automation, announced the signing of TAP Air Portugal to a contract to facilitate cost savings and a streamlined approach to the airlines’ parts purchasing. The flagship carrier of Portugal is leveraging the company’s industry knowledge, customer support and automated technology to transform their maintenance operations. “SkySelect is a quintessential partner because they’ve taken a rigorous and manual approach to parts purchasing and not only streamlined it into a user-friendly software but coupled it with unrivaled high-touch customer service”, said Paulo Baracat, Sourcing & Procurement Director, TAP Air Portugal. “SkySelect is saving us time, money and capturing previously unforeseen opportunities.” SkySelect acts as an extended purchasing arm to airlines and MROs. They empower people with technology and algorithms to do the work of matching real-time demand from buyers with supply. This process is already driving tangible time and cost savings.
eDreams ODIGEO expands content platform: eDreams ODIGEO, Europe’s largest online travel company and one of the largest European e-commerce businesses, announced a strategic agreement Travelport. The deal will see eDreams ODIGEO integrating Travelport+, a next-generation platform that creates a simplified, capability-rich, marketplace for travel retailing. The agreement strengthens eDreams ODIGEO’s unique offering of travel content to consumers globally. Over the last 12 months eDreams ODIGEO has been developing a number of growth opportunities for the business, and today’s announcement is one of many initiatives put in place to continue improving its unique customer proposition and lead the post-pandemic market once it is safe to resume travel. The new agreement is significant as it will allow eDreams ODIGEO to further strengthen its capabilities as a multi-GDS company. This latest step to diversify and enhance the company’s offer will allow it to provide more travel routes for customers, even more competitive prices, and increased flexibility and choice.
Travelport introduces new APIs: Travelport is introducing its new, enhanced RESTful / JSON APIs that will provide next-generation retailing and exchange capabilities to travel retailers worldwide. As part of Travelport’s investment in its next-generation platform, Travelport+, the new APIs are being rolled out globally and will offer retailers a gateway to better content choices, the tools to tailor their retailing experience, and the power to greatly improve the efficiency of their operations. “With our new APIs, we’ve expanded our modern retailing toolkit so that agencies upgrading to Travelport+ can more easily personalize the retailing experience they provide to their customers,” said Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer at Travelport. “The improvements we’ve made with these enhanced RESTful / JSON APIs will give travel retailers around the world simplified access to dynamic retail-ready content, from multiple sources, across all of their points of sale. And to ensure agencies can effectively operate as modern digital retailers, our APIs will also deliver the tools to optimize storefronts, better engage customers and manage trips more efficiently.”
Satair, SR Technics sign MRO deal: Satair, an Airbus Services company, and SR Technics, a world leading MRO service provider for the civil aviation sector, have signed a multi-year agreement covering the supply of a diverse scope of more than 1,000-part numbers in the first year. The agreement is valid from June 2021 and positions Satair as a registered preferred supplier with SR Technics. SR Technics and Satair have done business on a transactional level for more than 20 years. This agreement broadens and solidifies the existing relationship and will ensure that SR Technics has access to yearly preferential pricing and incentives on a selected scope of Satair’s catalogue. Through a proactive review of part scope, pricing, and incentives, this agreement will allow a dynamic adjustment of Satair’s supply activities for SR Technics and ensure efficiency in the challenging market of the aviation industry.
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