Retailing
How eSIMs can boost ancillary airline revenue
eSIMs are transforming in-destination connectivity. Travellers no longer have to fiddle around with tiny SIM cards to get online or make calls — now innovative eSIM apps can connect them to the country of their choice, or even an entire region. Bill McKimm, VP Travel...
Virgin Australia extends ‘Pets in Cabin’ add-on trial
Virgin Australia has decided to extend its 'Pets in Cabin' trial until the end of June. The trial kicked off in October 2025 and was due to to end this month. Available on select flights between Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, the add-on allows...
Delivery in focus: How will systems facilitate a seamless customer journey?
By Hadrien Musitelli, CEO, CitizenPlane Here’s a question. When a snowstorm threatens your flight and you’ve heard nothing, who do you call first? The airline? The airport? The hotel you’re due to check into tomorrow? From a customer’s point of view, any of these...
Lufthansa Group chooses Amadeus for Offer-Order transformation
Lufthansa Group have selected Amadeus Nevio modular solutions as partners for its retail modernisation strategy. Through the new technology, the Group's nine airlines — which include Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, and Swiss — will be able to upgrade their retail...
Modern airline retailing outlook 2026: Steady momentum and initial breakthroughs
By Daniel Friedli, Travel in Motion AG When the Modern Airline Retailing (MAR) programme kicked off in earnest around 2022, it did so with a mix of scepticism, excitement and ambition. Airlines had spent a decade talking about transformation while wrestling with...
Qantas launch Economy Plus seating on short-haul flights
Australian national carrier Qantas have announced they are launching Economy Plus seating. The new seats will provide passengers with greater legroom, priority boarding, and priority access to the overhead luggage bins. Available from 2026, the seating will be offered...
Omani LCC SalamAir launch subscription programme
SalamAir has announced the launch of a new flight membership scheme, called 'mOVemore'. Developed in partnership with subscription travel company Caravelo, the subscription will give frequent flyers a more cost-effective travel option. The scheme covers SalamAir's...
Meili: Building trust in car rental to drive ancillary airline revenue
Successfully pivoting to a frictionless Offer and Order retail ecosystem is now considered essential for airlines to boost ancillary revenue and encourage brand loyalty. Alongside hotels and insurance, car rental has been key to airlines' ancillary offerings. Yet...
Wizz Air to trial new premium ‘Wizz Class’ ticket
Wizz Air executive Michael Delehant confirmed this week that the budget carrier will trial 'Wizz Class' on select routes in December. The ticket will give customers extra perks for a higher fare price. These include the ability to block the middle seat for extra...
Revolutionising travel insurance: Digital innovation reshapes the aviation and travel experience
The travel insurance industry is undergoing a significant shift, driven by the evolving needs of modern travellers. From flight delays and lost baggage to unpredictable weather and medical emergencies, disruptions have long been a challenge. However, advancements in...
How Allianz is using tech to transform travel insurance
As the popularity of travel rises, the global travel insurance market is forecast to double from 2025 to 2030 to a total market value of US$63.87 billion. But with a growing customer base comes changing expectations. At Aviation Festival Americas 2025, we sat down...
Bridging the future of modern airline retailing
The airline industry is at a pivotal crossroads. For decades, the sector has relied on filed fare structures to power distribution and retailing. However, with customer expectations evolving and new retailing models and technology enabling dynamic offer creation...
Virgin Australia considers ‘neighbour-free’ booking option
Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson has confirmed that the airline is considering adding a 'neighbour-free' booking option. This scheme would allow passengers in Economy to reserve the seats beside them for an additional fee, creating more free space. However, the spare...
Automated flight booking by AI: How close are we?
By Eric Léopold, Founder, Threedot Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hottest trend in technology today. The question is not “if” but “when” it will transform travel search from a customer perspective. AI tools process a small fraction (single digit %) of...
What can airlines learn from banks and retailers?
The expectations of a digital consumer are set by the seamless, personalised experiences offered by companies like Amazon, Uber, and digital banks. Airlines are lagging behind and must rethink how they engage with customers. However, there are several obstacles to...
How Lufthansa Group is redefining end-to-end retail
With the right retail and payments experience, airlines can leverage deeper customer engagement and greater revenue potential. At Aviation Festival Asia, Puck Voorneveld, Senior Director Distribution and Payment Transformation at Lufthansa Group, looked at re-defining...
Lloyds pioneers in-app travel booking with Hopper
This week, Lloyds became the first UK bank to offer in-app travel booking thanks to Hopper's AI-driven travel platform. 'Lloyds Travel Booking' enables users to book flights and accommodation within the bank's mobile app, making it easier to manage trips and finances....
Three trends shaping airline loyalty this year
At Aviation Festival Asia, Peter Smith, SVP - Travel, Ticketing & Mobility at Cover Genius sat down to discuss loyalty, the customer experience evolution, and industry challenges. Smith explored how airlines can modernise their loyalty approach through...
Why, as a frequent traveller, I cannot wait for the actual Order transformation to take place.
Dear reader, you can probably guess how much, as a consultant in the travel industry, I am made to travel. Now, add to it a wife determined to discover all corners of the world, and you’ll understand why my body has got more used to an airplane seat than my own bed...
Reaching next-gen travellers: Frontier’s NDC partnership with Hopper
Earlier this week, Frontier Airlines announced an NDC (New Distribution Capability) partnership with Hopper. Starting on Tuesday, the global travel platform's users gained access to Frontier's full range of best available published fares, content bundles, and...
