Aerospace Diary

AINONLINE by    NEELAM MATHEWS SITA expects the use of new technologies such as Apple’s iBeacon to enhance passengers’ experience at airports. (Photo: SITA/Ernst Tobisch) June 30, 2014, 11:53 AM IT  provider  SITA  has begun using new technologies such as Apple’s iBeacon to provide real-time information on mobile devices to help passengers move seamlessly across airports to board flights on time. American Airlines has become the first airline to use the  SITA common-use beacon registry, launched at the recent  SITA  Air Transport  IT  summit in Brussels. A six-month pilot program at Dallas/Fort Worth will use 100 iBeacons–the largest ever deployment and a precursor to a permanent implementation in eight hubs. SITA  installs the Apple-supported iBeacons on airport walls; they measure about one inch in diameter and carry a range of 2 meters to 100 meters. The iBeacons use Bluetooth low energy and g...

Neelam Mathews Jan 8, 2013 Virgin Atlantic Airways has today appointed Craig Kreeger as its new Chief Executive. He will assume the role on 1st February 2013. He joins from American Airlines (AA), where he has held a 27-year career spanning commercial, financial and strategic roles in the US and around the globe. Kreeger, 53, succeeds current CEO, Steve Ridgway, who is retiring from the airline. Steve has had a 23-year tenure with Virgin Atlantic and became Chief Executive in 2001. During his time at the airline, Virgin Atlantic has grown from two 747s to a fleet of 40 long haul aircraft, flying six million passengers a year all over the world. Kreeger joins at an exciting time for the airline as Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic finalise their agreement for a new joint venture that will create an expanded Trans-Atlantic network. This new venture will materially enhance competition between the UK and North America, offering great benefits for customers travelling on thos...

Neelam Mathews Jan 1, 2013 The people at  Virgin Atlantic  are what make it special. I'm proud of every single one of them. See how we are flying in the face of ordinary in our new ad above. Find out more about our  people, places, products, style and all the ways we are flying in the face of ordinary  over at Virgin Atlantic's website. 2012 has been a fantastic year, with a wonderful ending as we revealed new domestic flights in the UK and a  strategic partnership with Delta . Here's to 2013 being even better. By  Richard Branson . Founder of Virgin Group

Neelam Mathews Dec 20, 2012 Virgin Chief Richard Branson is a sport and even winner of the bet Tony Fernnades, acknowledges this. Branson, after losing a bet on F1, will wear a red skirt and serve as a stewardess on AirAsia in May. The two had agreed in 2010 that whichever of their teams (then Virgin and Lotus) finished lower in the constructors’ championship in their debut season, the losing owner would serve on the other’s airline. The tickets for the flight will be auctioned off for charity. Wouldn't we all love to be on that historical flight!

Neelam Mathews Aug 8, 2012 Starting Oct 28, Virgin Atlantic will connect Delhi to New York ’s John F Kennedy airport via London Heathrow. The new service to JFK will complement the airline’s existing same day connection from Delhi to Newark via London Heathrow. The new service is being launched to build upon the airline’s strong performance to Newark from Delhi and to capitalize on the growing passenger numbers to New York and the US .   “ India is definitely one of our key markets and along with launching Mumbai later this year we are really looking forward to connecting more passengers to JFK and Newark out of Delhi .  The schedule has been designed to enable passengers from India ’s capital to connect quickly to New York . Our increasing share to Newark shows that passengers prefer breaking the journey in half, stretching their legs and indulging in some duty-free shopping. We're looking forward to making this new service to JFK a success,...