Layovers - Air Travel podcast

SHOW NOTES

I. News of the week

Emirates massive engine order

• Rolls-Royce secures its largest engine order with £6.1bn Emirates deal | Business | The Guardian
• Gulf airlines' success prompts hostility from US and European carriers | Business | The Guardian
• Emirates Chasing After US Passengers With A 2 For 1 Special

Cyprus plans for a new flag carrier

• New airline seeks to use Cyprus as a base (updated) | Cyprus Mail

Iconic JFK Terminal 5 building revived

• JetBlue May Enter the Airport Hotel Business - Condé Nast Traveler
• Mohegan Sun and Incheon Airport To Collaborate on Unique Gaming Resort – Skift

United expels passenger for tweet

• United bans researcher from flight after 'joke tweet' - BBC News

SkyJet and media sensationalism

• A Skywest Regional Jet Suffers Loss Of Cabin Pressure At 38,000 Feet

Manston's future

• Ukip manifesto pledge to re-open Manston

New UK Air Passenger Duty Taxe rate

• Tax changes on 1 April: Cheaper long-haul flights - BBC News
• Rates and allowances: Excise Duty - Air Passenger Duty - GOV.UK
• Belfast International Airport calls for air passenger duty rethink - BBC News

II. Innovation news of the week

ANA Star Wars plans

• Star Wars Boeing 787 R2-D2 Dreamliner Launched by Japan ANA — Layovers

Device charging safety

• Experts flag concerns about charging devices on takeoff and landing - Runway GirlRunway Girl

Lufthansa introduces Wifi on short haul flights

• Lufthansa signals intent to adopt terrestrial Wi-Fi for short-haul - Runway GirlRunway Girl

A truly global Wifi

• Get Ready for Truly Global High-Speed In-Flight Wi-Fi | Flight Chic

Gogo's study on in-flight Wifi expectations

• Global Passengers More Willing to Pay for In-Flight Wi-Fi Than U.S. Flyers – Skift

The success of in-flight live sports

• Next-gen IFC driving onboard re-accommodation and live sport

Docking iPad seat

• New PaxEx partnership could offer powerful proposition to airlines - Runway GirlRunway Girl
• Why it's high time to start future-proofing aircraft interiors - Runway GirlRunway Girl

Could planes be hacked through wifi?

• FAA Needs a More Comprehensive Approach to Address Cybersecurity [PDF]

Lufthansa frequent flyer system compromised

• Lufthansa Frequent Flyer Accounts Hacked

Airport sleeping pods

• At Helsinki Airport, a New Snooze Option - NYTimes.com

Business Lounge etiquette revised by Qantas

• Going for a thong: Why Qantas are cracking down on scruffy frequent flyers - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent

III. App of the week

Kayak Flights Price Alerts (account needed)

Kayak.com

IV. Topic of the week

The future of virtual reality, smartwatches and gadgets in flight. With Dean Johnson, SVP of Creative Innovation at Brandwidth Group.

Mentioned during the interview

• I'm the creepy guy wearing a VR headset on your plane (and it's great) | Polygon
• Virtual reality content on offer to airline passengers - BBC News
• Airbus Invents Immersive Seat Helmet To Make You Forget You're Flying — Layovers
• Headphones Not Cutting It? Noise-Canceling Airplane Seats Are Coming
• Sony partners with Virgin Atlantic for smartwatch initiative
• Airlines Use Digital Technology to Get Even More Personal - NYTimes.com — Layovers
• JAL Tests Smartwatch Broadcasts At Tokyo Haneda — Layovers

V. Question of the week

1st Class, Premier Class, Upper Class. Who truly has the top tier "pointy end product"? What product/services are necessary to be widely considered a 1st class product?by Will Hunter from Berkeley, California.

VI. Airport of the week

LAX