Onboard Hospitality March/May 2024

MARCH-MAY

Bags of style

Reimagining amenities to enhance journeys

AMBERSKY 2024 IN REVIEW

WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

STAYING HYDRATED ONBOARD

EMPOWERING CONNECTED TRAVEL

EDITORIAL

EDITOR

Stuart Forster

stuart.forster@onboardhospitality.com

DIGITAL EDITOR

April Waterston april.waterston@onboardhospitality.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Sheena Adesilu

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Jo Austin (For Taste of Travel enquiries: jo.austin@onboardhospitality.com, Julie Baxter, julie.baxter@ onboardhospitality.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Kelly Stevenson, Marc Warde, Steve Walpole, Mike Pooley, Eric Diamond

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Steve Hartridge

PUBLISHER

Sue Williams

sue.williams@onboardhospitality.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Craig McQuinn craig.mcquinn@onboardhospitality.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Welcome to our first edition of 2024, which happens to be the tenth year of the Onboard Hospitality Awards. Fittingly for our notable anniversary, we've received an impressive number of entries and you can read about them all on our website (onboardhospitality.com).

Stuart Forster EDITOR Onboard Hospitality

Find out how many entries were submitted on the first of our awards pages. Our judging panel of independent, industry experts will gather in April near London to assess the finalists. Winners will be revealed at a ceremony on May 28 in Hamburg, Germany.

In this edition, to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8, we have a feature looking at certified womenowned businesses. And in addition to inputs from our regular contributors, we have features about reimagining amenities and empowering connected travel.

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN AIR, RAIL, CRUISE AND FERRIES awards.onboardhospitality.com

Got

This issue marks my last as Editor. In future, I will be focusing on technology and retail remits, so look forward to collaborating with those of you active in those areas as we work to enhance our coverage. A familiar face will replace mine as April Waterston, currently Digital Editor, will step into a broader role as Managing Editor.

Thank you for your support and we hope you’ll enjoy this issue of Onboard Hospitality!

MEET THE TEAM...

Have

Want

STUART FORTSER

APRIL WATERSTON

CRAIG MCQUINN

SUE WILLIAMS

New amenities onboard Etihad

Etihad Airways has introduced a new collection of amenity kits and loungewear for all cabins. The new luxury amenities, rolled out from the end of February, were designed in partnership with Italian design house Giorgio Armani and skincare brand ESPA.

Passengers in Business class can enjoy amenity kits designed by Giorgio Armani, which come in two styles: a clutch and a cube. They contain ESPA skincare products, including Nourishing Lip Treatment, Hydrating Spa Face Must and Rejuvenating Hand and Body Lotion, as well as plush slippers. Guests on ultra-long-haul flights that are more than nine hours in duration can find Etihad Business class loungewear too.

Guests flying in The Residence and First class will receive a Giorgio Armani and Etihad branded large folio bag in one of four colours. Inside are ESPA products such as the Hydrating Spa Face Mist, Nourishing Lip Treatment, Restful Pulse Point Oil, a Rest and Recovery Night Balm and Rejuvenating Hand and Body lotion. Bespoke Giorgio Armani and Etihad loungewear and slippers are also available.

Passengers in all three classes will receive an eyeshade, earplugs and a dental kit. The Giorgio Armani range, created in partnership with Buzz, will also span the airline’s meal service ware and textiles.

“The Residence, First and Business class bags draw inspiration from our home, Abu Dhabi, mimicking the beautiful Liwa desert, architectural sites and colour tones,” commented Graham Appel, Manager Inflight Product and Development at Etihad Airways.

s outhwest Airlines to upgr A de c A bins

Southwest Airlines has announced enhancements to be rolled out in 2025. They include a cabin redesign, new Recaro seats and a uniform refresh.

The airline partnered with Tangerine for an interior redesign featuring deep blue tones, sky-blue accents and the Southwest Heart woven into the carpet. New Recaro seats will feature adjustable headrests and personal electronic device holders.

“Our redesigned cabin interior significantly enhances our inflight passenger experience and will complement the amazing service that our crews provide,” said Tony Roach, SVP and Chief Customer Officer at Southwest Airlines.

news bites

• The inaugural African Air Expo (africanairexpo.com), billed as "the first Aviation Convention & Exhibition for Africa" was postponed. The event was due to take place at Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 12-14, 2024 • Delta Air Lines has announced that select Boeing 737-800s will be refurbished with Panasonic's eX1 inflight entertainment system. • The event billed as the biggest cabin interiors gathering in the Middle East and North Africa drew more than 6,000 delegates to Dubai World Trade Centre on March 5-6, 2024. Aircraft Interiors Middle East (aime.aero) was co-located with MRO Middle East.

A sustA in A ble metA l edition of t he b A ristA cup ( thebaristacup.com) , for use by pilots A nd crew, wA s introduced At Amber s ky 2024 in lAtvi A . i t sh A res design elements with its retA il counterpA rt.

Dialing up positive changes in the air

The Seamless Air Alliance (SAA), which develops global standards for inflight connectivity (IFC), plans to enable seamless connectivity between terrestrial and satellite networks in the aviation sector – a move that will enhance enhance the passenger experience.

Mobile satellite services use of proprietary technologies have previously hindered integration with terrestrial networks. Historically, variations in antennae, frequencies and modems have resulted in a lack of interopability between satellite providers' IFC offerings and brought challenges for airlines.

To address such issues, the SAA formed the NTN Working Group to consider the requirements of the aviation industry. The group has already released a white paper outlining key considerations for applying 5G NTN to IFC and opportunities for a fully interoperable solution for aviation connectivity.

“5G NTN provides an opportunity to harmonise IFC standards and overcome the limitations of proprietary satellite technologies, which prevents airlines from pursuing technology upgrades and inhibits the interchangeability of equipment,” commented

Olivier Hauw, Fast Track Leader Connectivity at Airbus and co-chair of the SAA NTN Working Group.

Rubén Díaz Calvo, Principal Technology Platform Manager at Vodafone and co-chair of the NTN Working Group, is keen for interested aviation, telecom, satellite and connectivity providers to join the SAA and contribute to the standards development: "The SAA NTN Working Group will evolve its studies on 5G NTN connectivity for the aviation industry and present its findings to 3GPP."

The SAA (seamlessalliance. com) was founded at the 2018 Mobile World Congress and today has over 200 companies among its members. It has seven specialised working groups chaired by experts in aeronautical, connectivity and telecommunications technologies.

2024 AWARDS

THE ONBOARD HOSPITALITY AWARDS ARE BACK FOR THE TENTH TIME!

THE 2024 EDITION HAS BEEN A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR ENTRIES.

This year marks a decade of the Onboard Hospitality Awards. It has been a bumper year for entries with a record-breaking 212 in individual categories in addition to the Cabin Concept of the Year entries submitted by airlines.

“I’m so proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years. When the idea first came to me in 2014, I had no idea how successful our awards would become,” says Sue Williams, Publisher of Onboard Hospitality magazine.

“They are the most highly respected awards within our industry. This is all thanks to our clients – both suppliers and airlines – who have put their trust in Onboard Hospitality and our esteemed international judges,” she adds.

“I cannot thank everyone enough for all the hard work and many hours they have dedicated over the years to make these awards what they are today. The awards really do reflect the determination, creativity and incredibly high standards of our industry,” concludes Sue.

Associate Publisher Craig McQuinn’s idea for a Cabin Concept of the Year award was first implemented in 2020. “It was wonderful to see how quickly it became one of the world’s most prestigious awards for inflight service aboard an airline,” he says.

“This year we have three categories recognising excellence.

We now have Full-Service Airline Cabin Concept of the Year, Low-Cost Airline Cabin Concept of the Year and the Private Jet Cabin Concept of the Year,” explains Craig.

The finalists will be judged on April 11 by an independent panel of industry experts, including Onboard Product and Journey Management Adviser Simon Soni, who has been a judge since the very first year, back in 2014.

“This is an industry filled with huge talent and enthusiasm. While much of the journey experience is becoming increasingly standardised, my involvement with judging the Onboard Hospitality Awards reminds me that innovation is alive and well in the industry. There remain many ways to set the guest journey experience apart and myriad forwardthinking suppliers can help us make different guest journeys stand out with new products and different thinking in every sector,” says Simon.

You are, of course, very welcome to attend the 2024 Onboard Hospitality Awards ceremony at the Taste of Travel Theatre, in Hamburg, at 5.00 pm on Tuesday, May 28. Please be there on time as nobody will be admitted to the hall after 5.00 pm. Afterwards, the results will be published online.

In the meantime, please visit onboardhospitality.com to see details about the all of the 2024 entries and to read about the finalists in each of the categories. •

10 YEARS of the Onboard Hospitality Awards

We take a look at what the Onboard Hospitality Awards mean to some of the many companies who have entered products over the past decade…

Awards successes inevitably mean different things to different people. To better understand what the Onboard Hospitality Awards mean to our participants we reached out for viewpoints.

“Winning an Onboard Hospitality Award is a celebration of our partnership with the airline and an acknowledgement of the hard work and collaboration across multiple teams and departments. Winning makes people feel that their work is valued and is the highest honour in our industry,” said Mark Russell, Chief Executive Officer at Linstol.

Ellie Parkes, Global Business Development Manager at John Horsfall, also saw awards success as something to share: “It’s a great accolade and wonderful opportunity to highlight our product innovations. The small onboard details can get lost in the promotion of large-scale airline projects, so it's wonderful to have awards for the little things which make a passenger's journey extra special.”

Recognising excellence

For Fernanda Veiga, Chief Relations Officer at Kaelis, success is thrilling and has significance on multiple levels: “Winning an award is considered a recognition of excellence and that our teamwork has made a significant impact and contribution

to our customers and our industry…it also brings prestige and validation to Kaelis’ business and team.”

“Winning an award is very important to us as that confirms that we are pursuing Kaelis’ mission: To partner actively with our customers to improve travel experience globally, by helping them reduce costs, improve their quality of service and competitiveness and minimise risks always focusing on sustainability,” she continued.

“Winning an award also serves as a motivator for further improvement and innovation so we can do it better year-onyear,” concluded Fernanda.

Multiple accolades

Meanwhile, Simon Yaffe, Client Service Director at Buzz, said: “Over the past 10 years, we have won many awards for design and innovation. We’re incredibly proud to have participated in Onboard Hospitality Awards for the past nine years: in that time we have achieved an incredible 34 finalists, 10 highly commended and 14 winners.

“Highlights include winning the Sustainability Award for our industryleading ecoTHREAD blankets in 2016, many years before sustainability became an onboard must-have. We’re also proud to have been recognised for Best Business

It’s a great accolade and wonderful opportunity to highlight our product innovations

Class Amenity kits for three years in a row from 2017 until 2019 and then again in 2021.”

Benefits of success

Ellie notes several advantages to John Horsfall in winning Onboard Hospitality Awards: “There are obvious marketing opportunities and our previous wins have highlighted our design-led products to new customers. It’s also a fantastic opportunity in terms of bringing our team together to celebrate everyone who was part of the project, from sales and design teams to logistics and admin. Our award wins have even been mentioned by candidates when we’ve been recruiting: who doesn’t want to work for an awardwinning business?”

Fernanda also notes that awards success helps boost employee morale and overall team spirit and feeds employee satisfaction. Additionally, winning an award presided over by a panel of independent industry experts has proven valuable externally: “It enhances the trust and confidence that customers place in the Kaelis brand, serving as an external endorsement of the quality and excellence of our offerings.”

And Mark has observed: “The awards benefit Linstol because they allow us to showcase the diversity of our products across multiple categories. Linstol’s aim is to revolutionise the travel industry by constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible and setting new standards for quality, design and environmental stewardship."

“When our work is recognised for outstanding accomplishment, our teams are encouraged and motivated to set the bar a few steps higher and continue to grow and innovate,” he says, echoing the adage that success breeds success.

We hope that many more companies find that entering the Onboard Hospitality Awards brings benefits – both in our tenth year and far into the future. Don't forget, you can read about all this year's entries on our website. awards.onboardhospitality.com •

in numbers

Satellites and connectivity

At the end of 2023, more than 9,100 aircraft were equipped with satellite connectivity.

Altitudes

geostationary orbit or geO satellites typically sit at an altitude of around 35,786 km above the earth’s surface:

...That’s more than 4,044 times the height of the peak of Mount everest, more than 108,442 times the height of the eiffel tower or more than 43,219 times the height of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE.

geO satellites travel at exactly the same velocity as our planet, which takes 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds to revolve a full 360 degrees.

lOw earth Orbit (leO) satellites sit at an altitude Of between 500kM AnD 1,200kM ABovE EArTh. starlink’s satellites are placed at an altitude Of 550kM (342 Miles).

lAtency is the speed of the signal between a satellite and aircraft.

2023 2013

2,264 Objects were lAunched into spAce Around the world

MediuM earth Orbit (MeO) satellites are defined as having an altitude between 5,000 kM and 20,000 kM.

).

leO satellites Orbit the earth at speeds of  7.8 kM/s (4.8 Mi/s), Or 28,000 kM/h (17,000 Mph).

Valour consultancy (valourconsultancy.com) figures regarding satellite altitudes and latency.

onboardhospitality.com

210 Objects were lAunched into spAce Around the world

launching a spaceX Falcon 9 rocket, to deploy satellites, costs about

$62 MilliOn

spaceX's starlink v2 Mini satellite weighs apprOXiMately 1,760 lbs (800 kG) at launch, alMOst three tiMes heavier than the Older generatiOn satellites (weighing in at 573 lbs Or 260 kG).

the speed Of the earth’s rOtatiOn at the equatOr is about  1,037 Mph (1,670 kM/h

Meaningful art for

In collaboration with

A consciously curated collection for JAL’s Business Class passengers to change the perception of disabilities while providing a platform for diverse artists to showcase their talents to the world.

Pours for Thought: Economy wines in the sky

JetVine Director Kelly Stevenson discusses how to select great-tasting wine for Economy cabins while keeping to a budget…

Previously, we’ve looked at selecting the wine lists for premium cabins in this column. The approach is similar for Economy, the largest and most populated cabin, though sizes, of course, vary significantly according to airline, aircraft and even by flight.

Differences in wine style and quality are nearly always budget-led and the buyer should consider format types and sizes. Historically, the choice was a 75cl glass or PET bottle or 18.7cl glass or PET bottle.

Size isn’t everything

Format affects the inflight service. If 75cl or one-litre wine bottles are loaded, the cabin crew will pour the wine into a glass and serve. An 18.7cl single serve is intended for one person, so the crew can hand the bottle and an empty glass for selfpour. There are myriad reasons why an airline will pick one over the other. In my experience, it’s usually led by crew routines and what’s deemed acceptable.

Today, there’s more choice than there was a few years go. The canned wine category has become a soaring success as quality producers consider more sustainable formats plus cans are lighter in weight. TAP Air Portugal introduced Vinhos Borges’ Gatao to retail in 2019. Virgin Atlantic took a risk in replacing all single-use PET with Nice

canned wine, offering white and red options network-wide – the move has proved to be a resounding success.

Buy on Board is one of the reasons for the success of wine producer The Uncommon Wines of England, which saw its Eleanor rosé sparkling cans hit the heights with British Airways. It’s sublime in taste and strikingly beautiful in design.

Alternatives to glass

Airlines have started to trial wines in the Frugal paper bottle. Replacing glass in a 75cl format, recyclable paper is cleverly moulded into a bottle. This is exceptionally good when you consider the lengths of long-haul flights, the number of bottles required and the cost of fuel. A chilled paper bottle maintains a cooler temperature longer than

glass. Wines from the Italian trailblazer Cantina Goccia are available in Frugal's ecofriendly bottles.

The key to success is good, identifiable choices, especially when catering to a large audience. If one of the white wines is Chardonnay – a well-known, loved grape variety, then perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc would be a suitable second choice – also well-known but different in style and taste. If you’re not a Chardonnay lover, there’s a good chance you’ll like the Sauvignon and vice versa.

It’s the same for the red wines – a fullbodied red blend from Bordeaux or South Africa would position well alongside a lightbodied Pinot Noir or characterful and fruity Malbecs from South America.

Following the rules

The selection of Economy wines should include an unbiased blind tasting with the same considerations as for all cabins – does the wine perform at altitude and is there enough volume available?

Ultimately, Economy wines must be carefully considered as they’re subject to feedback from the majority of guests on a flight – that’s a lot of potential complaints via email and on social media if you get it wrong. Fortunately, there are great producers, specialised cooperatives and expert distributors who help to ensure the cellars in the sky never run dry. •

Economy wines must be carefully considered as they’re subject to feedback from the majority of guests on a flight

VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVOURITE IN CATERING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR awards.onboardhospitality.com

kelly.stevenson@ jetvine.co.uk

jetvine.co.uk

Code red Special meals onboard

Clear

special meal codes

are needed with urgency says the restaurateur and owner of Libero Special Meals, Marc Warde…

There seems to be a misunderstanding that QSAI’s recently updated Special Meals: Codes, Definitions, and Interpretation Guidelines are new mandatory standards. They are not. They do not set out new, enforceable standards in any legal sense.

The Quality and Safety Alliance – In-flight Services (QSAI) drew up the guidelines in association with some airline caterers. But it’s worth remembering the alliance represents just 2% of the world’s airlines.

Failing to address allergies

The document is advisory not mandatory and key representatives of many airlines do not agree with the guidelines. The document adopts dietary advice regarding low-calorie, low-fat, low-salt and diabetic meals but fundamentally fails to address passengers travelling with food allergies. They are simply not aligned with modern food allergy- and dietary-related passenger needs nor comply with the most stringent allergy-related laws and best practices.

We are in urgent need of enhanced and clear special meal codes

Despite guidelines from regulatory bodies, including the UK’s own Food Standards Agency, airlines too often fail to provide clear ingredient and allergen information with their food. We are in urgent need of enhanced and clear special meal codes for the international airline catering industry given the sheer rise in food allergies, particularly in children – a 300% rise worldwide in reported children’s food allergies in 2022-23.

Present regulations

best practices, such as those outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Flight Catering Association (IFCA) can influence how airlines handle allergen information.

Clearer labelling

Members of Gen Z and Generation Alpha simply don’t understand why airlines and other travel organisations can’t provide clarity on ingredients, special dietary meals, food allergies and food labelling – just as supermarkets do.

In almost all cases, allergen labelling, and the preparation of food are subject to the food safety laws of the country where the airline is registered. Nonetheless, international standards and

Stricter and clearer standards for special meals and allergy labelling are desperately needed. Airlines and passengers are waiting for the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ICAO to apply an international standard that can be adopted globally, not just by airlines but across the travel industry.•

I want our guests to feel connected to what they’re seeIng outsIde

Kaelhub Cudmore, Rocky Mountaineer’s Executive Chef, discusses his thoughts while developing menus for the luxury rail company.

rail travel is all about moving slower, taking in the incredible landscapes you’re travelling through and enjoying the journey. Our food experience ties in directly with this, offering guests the opportunity to savour, enjoy and truly experience the flavours of the land.

The menu on our Rockies to the Red Rocks route is very different from the menus on our Canadian routes but the vision behind each remains the same. My main objective is to create lasting memories for our guests while showcasing the land and communities we travel through.

You’ll see ingredients such as local beef short ribs with green chilli demiglace, peaches from Palisade and baked goods from Sweet Coloradough bakery in Glenwood Springs. I’m inspired by food, memories and the land, and want our guests to feel connected to what they’re seeing outside as they travel

through the epic scenery that Colorado and Utah have to offer.

catering to guests’ needs

We have an incredibly skilled team who can cater to all of our guests’ needs while onboard, dietary and otherwise. We encourage guests with allergies and dietary restrictions to let our team know when booking and again while onboard, and we can accommodate almost any allergy or restriction.

We have some space constraints and restrictions in terms of how long food can stay fresh while onboard. The menu is designed to take this into account, and we never let these challenges keep us from serving incredible meals. The only real place where the impact might be seen is the sheer variety of options on offer.

Creating sustainable meals that carry positive impacts is important to both myself, on a personal level, and Rocky

Mountaineer as an organisation. I carry this in the forefront of my mind when creating menus and allow sustainability to function as a lens that all choices are seen through.

complementing the journey

The dining experience is a huge part of the overall experience onboard Rocky Mountaineer. The culinary programme is the perfect way to bring the outside in and complement journeys. Our rail cars are basically restaurants on the rails – the dining experience is a big part of enjoying the journey.

rockymountaineer.com •

SUPER COOL CUP

Steve Walpole considers the economic climate and other challenges to supplying affordable food to passengers and suggests simplicity is the answer…

You could be forgiven for thinking that food costs began to decrease over the past few months. However, the price decreases we saw were down to fierce competition between retailers rather than a change in the food market. Prices are continuing to rise and no let-up is predicted any time soon.

Supplying affordable food remains an ongoing problem, stemming from what have now become long-term problems relating to sourcing goods from currently unobtainable areas, such as Ukraine, as well as environmental factors – in particular adverse weather conditions. Global weather is having an alarmingly negative impact on food production in several places. This is a hot topic for discussion and investment in alternative production methods is worth exploring further.

Additionally, the quality of food seems to be an issue. This, at least partially, could be the result of cost-cutting exercises by producers who now have smaller profit margins than ever before – that could be down to import delays or again influenced by environmental factors or a combination of both.

Whatever the reason, consumers are at the tail end of it: getting less of quality and paying more than was previously the case.

Chef's Table: Use better quality, local food

Considering carbon impact

Meat-free continues to be big business but even this sector, whether processed or natural produce, needs to be considered more mindfully in relation to the huge carbon footprint of importing ingredients from around the globe to create products. Much time and energy need to be invested in achieving a balance between sustainability and creativity.

Vegan and vegetarian have become notable inclusions and staple choices on today’s menus. That’s not only because

GRAHAM JARVIS

of ethical and sustainable factors but also because of the high cost of dairy and meat produce. They are here to stay.

Burning issues

Energy is perhaps more of a hidden issue in relation to sustainability, specifically how it is used in the production, processing and delivery of produce.

New carbon labelling provides the opportunity for both manufacturers and consumers to make more mindful choices about the food they are producing or, in the

case of diners, eating.

It is all well and good using fewer premium cuts of meat or more robust ingredients to limit waste and utilise undervalued produce. Yet the economic saving is negligible if, for example, it requires eight hours of slow roasting or cooking to make it a tender, flavourful and ultimately a viable product that passengers can appreciate.

Thankfully less expensive means of cooking in such ways are progressing rapidly with the introduction of express cooking technology, such as the Ninja cooker, which aims to cut cooking times by more than half.

Choices for airlines

With these things in mind, airline food finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place. The food that airlines use is only as ethical as the suppliers make it.

Flying is, of course, in itself is not climatefriendly and airlines can only mitigate this burden, or at least aim to minimise their carbon footprint. In part, they can do that through considered choices in relation to food and other supplies.

Maybe simplicity is the way to increase consumer satisfaction. If we adopt a ‘less is more’ approach and really take catering back to focusing on less exotic and better quality, local food then we can work towards reducing the supply chain's environmental impact. •

Airline food finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place. The food that airlines use is only as ethical as the suppliers make it.

info@stevewalpoleltd. com

stevewalpoleltd.com

Pride of the Lion City

Stuart Forster visits SATS Inflight Catering Centre 2, near Changi Airport in Singapore, and is impressed by the passion of its chefs and commitment to sustainability.

The dishes prepared by Executive Chef Azzard Saleh and his team could grace tables in a high-end restaurant. They are served for lunch at SATS Inflight Catering Centre 2. Taking a tour of the facility gave me insights of the ways of working in SATS and how the company is striving to feed and connect communities.

As I discover, SATS has a dedicated team of chefs who participate as Chef Mentors in prestigious culinary competitions held around the world, including the biennial World Pastry Cup or Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie. The company pushes its chefs to take

up competition, for example to the Culinary World Cup and Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) – Asia’s leading international food and hospitality trade event. By participating in these competitions, SATS chefs demonstrate their knowledge of food technology serving onboard meals but also their passion, creativity and talent in the kitchen, which is equivalent to that of their peers on the ground.

The chefs also work to cross-pollinate ideas and trends. That includes collaborating with partners such as Monty’s Bakehouse, a wholly-owned SATS subsidiary, which is UK-based. Additionally, the chefs work with world-class airlines to provide solutions

to their needs; designing or adapting dishes to airline crockery and tableware, providing a solution to the specific needs of each airline – that may mean selecting pastries to fit shapes.

Feeding the hub of the future

Singapore has plans to redevelop Changi Airport and enhance its capacity. The opening of Changi’s new Terminal 5 is scheduled for 2035. It will be the size of terminals one, two and three combined, expanding the number of annual passengers capable of flying from Singapore from 60 to 120 million. Approximately 80% of the inflight catering for flights from Changi is

Our industry is ripe for reinvention. Is it time to rebuild on new foundations?

provided by SATS. As well as having an area for preparing dishes for private jets, SATS Inflight Catering Centre 2 features ethnic sub-kitchens preparing dishes typical of Singapore’s cuisines.

Consequently, plans for the airport represent both an opportunity and a challenge as Inflight Catering Centre 2 currently has the capacity to produce up to 45,000 meals a day while Inflight Catering Centre 1 has the capacity for up to 60,000 meals a day.

SATS predicts an expansion phase until 2026 followed by a sustainable growth phase from 2027-30.

Sustainability is already built into SATS’ development plan. That includes refreshing their hybrid fleet of commercial and electric delivery vehicles and electric high loaders. Singapore’s carbon tax rises to $25 a tonne in 2024, incentivising improvements relating to carbon efficiency.

By 2030, SATS aims to improve the value-add per employee by 50%. Enhancing automation will play a role in

achieving that by increasing efficiency and minimising wastage.

Increasing automation

One development within the Inflight Catering Centre 2’s recently opened extension is the installation of a programmable rotary fryer. It reduces the production of batches of fried rice to between 15 and 20 minutes while replicating an authentic wok hei flavour of wok-made food.

The centre also has a programmable rice machine capable of making up to 600 kg of rice an hour in a variety of styles. It uses gas burners, because of the flavour benefits, and has a machine that fluffs the rice and then deposits it in a blast chiller.

Additionally, storing food that is free from preservatives in sealed, thermoformed packaging is helping increase efficiency while reducing wastage. Vacuum levels can be moderated so as not to squash the contents, which can then be chilled

or frozen and used later. It’s part of a strategy to make the kitchen less dependent on deliveries.

I was able to observe how a cake was sliced using a laser-like jet of water by a machine capable of cutting precision shapes to exact proportions. It means there are no inconsistencies in portion or form.

After savouring the tempting aromas of oven-fresh items from the boutique bakery, I also witnessed satay skewers being fanned over glowing charcoal to create authentic street food-like flavour.

‘Hawker culture in Singapore: community dining and culinary practices in a multicultural urban context’ is present throughout Singapore and was inscribed onto UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. Airlines flying from Singapore can carry examples of local cuisine and serve it to their passengers. That encompasses Indian, Malaysian and Chinese dishes made at SATS Inflight Catering Centre 2. •

AmberSky 2024 in Riga, Latvia

Held in Latvia's capital from February 13-15, AmberSky 2024 was sponsored by Retail inMotion and Hanse Distribution and revived an event that was initially held in 2015. It was an opportunity for suppliers and airlines to interact during scheduled 30-minute meetings while also gaining valuable insights and feedback from cabin crew, who were present to participate in retail training.

Cabin crew were one of the event’s four pillars of focus. The others were ancillary know-how, products sold onboard as well as points of sale and related technology. Workshops on the final afternoon provided insights into best practices relating to onboard retail: in addition to hearing perspectives from subject matter experts, delegates had opportunities to ask questions and receive answers.

“We were carefully planning AmberSky 2024 since a year ago and couldn’t be happier about the overall feedback we are receiving. Both airlines and suppliers confirmed it was good for business, whereas the cabin crew awards during the gala dinner and awards night were nothing less than magical,” said Aleksejs Romanovs, Key Account Manager at LSG Group and co-organiser of the event. The opening night's networking party in Riga's 26th-storey Skyline Bar, provided panoramic views over the city centre.

"We had a lot of meetings and a lot of interest in our bottles," said Marco Hausladen, representing the Austrian sparkling wine manufacturer Szigeti.

"For us it's very important to stay connected with airlines and to see the crew because basically they are the people who sell our product onboard," commented Katia Egerter, Director of Global Travel Retail at Jaegermeister. It has been confirmed that AmberSky is set to return in 2025. ambersky.lv

time for exchange

“We held meaningful conversations revolving around what truly moves us...The diverse airline and supplier participant portfolio allowed for peer-to-peer exchange in a way that isn't found in too many other formats, fostering dialogue between subject matter experts and direct users of the worldwide ancillary programmes: our crew members," commented Laura Rösges, Chief Commercial Officer at Retail inMotion.

"Over three days we introduced Dr. PAWPAW to airlines and their cabin crew... It was invaluable to see the support of those selling and being our brand ambassadors in the sky,” said Johnny Paterson, Co-Founder of Dr. PAWPAW, of attending AmberSky.

events / 25

Creating connections

Manuel Huebschmann, Head of Account Management for Europe at Retail inMotion said, "The conversations showed there's a real demand for end-to-end onboard retail services, including IT, data analytics, operations and retail management. I'm enthusiastic to see how we can further strengthen our collaborative solutions and help airlines become more retail-minded while increasining sales and passenger satisfaction."

Looking to 2025

“The industry deserves an exclusive annual event for airlines...It is already clear that the next AmberSky will take place at the same venue, the Radisson Blu Latvija Conference and Spa Hotel, Riga, in February 2025," confirmed Aleksejs Romanovs, Co-Organiser of AmberSky.

onboardhospitality.com

Ordering ahead

Stuart Forster looks at whether airlines giving passengers the option of pre-ordering food and drink will help cut cabin waste…

Based on data from 2017, the IATA Cabin Waste Handbook indicates that 5.7 million tonnes of cabin waste is produced each year around the world. With airlines looking to cut costs and increase sustainability, allowing passengers to preorder meals seems an obvious step in removing weight from flights.

Several airlines give passengers options to pre-order meals, including Norwegian, Jet2, and AirTransat. British Airways allows Economy – EuroTraveller passengers the option of paying with Avios frequent flier points.

“The advantages of pre-ordering are evident on multiple fronts. From the perspective of the airline, it effectively minimises onboard waste. For passengers, the ability to make choices in advance provides a streamlined and worry-free experience throughout their journey,” says Peter Coelho, Chief Operating Officer at Omnevo.

More than selling

Digital uplifting

“To mitigate this issue

He explains that implementing preordering is more complex than merely amending or introducing a new sales system: “It necessitates fine-tuning processes and a comprehensive evaluation of the airline’s operations... This involves a deep understanding of the airline’s product mix, enabling them to optimise their carts for every leg of the journey. The goal is to avoid carrying items onboard that may not be in demand or are not popular in specific regions.”

The goal is to avoid carrying items onboard that may not be in demand

Omnevo facilitates digital uplifting, wherein a local catering company delivers fresh goods across various legs,” explains Coelho. “This approach not only ensures the quality and variety of options but also extends the convenience for passengers. With digital uplifting, passengers can make their preorders up until just a few hours before their flight.”

Adopting pre-ordering with once-a-

day. That must be considered in the

Adopting pre-ordering with once-aday loading for multi-leg schedules means the freshness of certain dishes may not be optimal by the end of the day. That must be considered in the choices made available to flyers.

Live data is crucial to understanding stock levels and managing waste. SWISS trialled selling discounted food via the Too Good To Go app on the final flights of each day. Along with pre-ordering, that could be a solution that more airlines try employing to cut wastage.  •

How to...

...build your retail

Launched as the retail arm of Singapore Airlines, KrisShop is now a market-leading omni-channel in both the domestic and travel retail sectors. Julie Baxter learns more…

remember yOur rOOTs...

KrisShop was established to provide both passengers and local consumers with a premium shopping experience but as the retail arm of an airline with a long-standing loyalty base, it was always crucial that the offer added value to the KrisFlyer community via their miles. KrisFlyers can earn and redeem miles when they shop, whether flying or not, earning up to four miles per dollar spent, depending on their established eligibility.

evOlve Over Time...

KrisShop has evolved over time but is far more than just inflight shopping. It has become a platform for brands, aggregators and partners who want to reach out to the premium consumer. A majority of KrisShop’s customers do however continue to be part of the KrisFlyer loyalty base, both travel and retail enthusiasts.

leverage digiTal...

As an omni-channel platform, KrisShop has leveraged the digital and offline channels to provide customers with cross-border shopping wherever they are. The digital pre-order-to-flight channel allows for a wide range of duty-free, travel exclusive and sales tax-free products which customers can browse 90 days before and 30 days after their flight. Onboard, customers are also presented with the top-selling products via the KrisShop on the IFE, and can have purchases delivered to the next flight or their doorstep.

facT file

Electronics, beauty, fashion and alcohol are key sales categories in both the KrisShop online and inflight channels.

Shopper behaviour is monitored and product research is conducted

constantly to efficiently grow the assortment of inflight and home delivery products.

Earning miles for travel and shopping perks is key to the KrisShop's success in retaining a strong client base.

fOcus On parTners...

The omni-channel strategy covers a wide geographical range, allowing global partners to come onboard to enhance the product range and fulfilment of orders internationally. KrisShop remains committed to distinct customer segmentation (traveller and domestic) and continues to work to improve the user experience for both markets.

lOOk aHead...

Key to the future is the ongoing expansion of the products offered to meet the global shopper's demands and preferences. Processes to constantly improve the user experience and fine tune the international order fulfilment are already in place. KrisShop is not just a shop but plays a key part in rewarding Singapore Airlines' loyal travellers and contributes to the added value of the KrisFlyer membership. •

Bagging up

Stuart Forster examines how amenities can be reimagined beyond a bag and its contents to enhance a passenger’s experience during journeys…

Loaded with practical items, the amenity kit has long been a part of air travel. But is it now time to rethink amenity kits and how they are presented?

“Airlines stand at a crossroads: compete in a commoditised world where amenity kits are mere afterthoughts, or champion a revitalised narrative of travel: where even the smallest detail is woven with meaning, connecting passengers to the airline’s ethos and the spirit of their journey,” suggests Paula Wines, Creative Director – Asia at inflight comfort and accessory creator Linstol.

Michael Carr, Creative Director at Watermark, explains that the amenity kit is defined as a collection of things for personal care and comfort: “But the very notion of what personal care and comfort are has shifted dramatically in recent years, as our needs adjust to a rapidly changing world. It’s still important to maintain an element of pampering and escapism.”

Air travel is itself changing. Onboard technology is evolving and ultra-long-haul flights mean that

journeys can be significantly longer than was previously the case.

“Amenity kits have the potential to evolve beyond just standard practical items and into more personalised and high-tech experiences, tailored to suit individual needs. Skincare products could become customisable, onboard entertainment may move in a more immersive direction through the use of virtual reality headsets and embedded sensors may be used for health monitoring and product tagging, linking the physical product with a digital experience,” suggests Michael.

Onboard wellness

Longer flights increase the need for onboard wellness programmes, including the likes of yoga and aromatherapy. That leads to a more holistic experience, creating a more comfortable, enjoyable and enhanced journey for passengers.

Alison Wells, Managing Director of Plane Talking Products adds: “Amenities can take the passenger on a wellbeing journey – stimulating

all the senses, offering them a holistic experience. We believe that the development of this wellbeing journey can start from the moment the passenger purchases their ticket and continue along every touchpoint until their journey ends at home, a hotel or wherever their final destination.”

passenger experience. “If we know the wants and

“We should try and rethink the traditional amenity pack left on the seat,” says Alison, whose company is exploring ways of tailoring the passenger experience. “If we know the wants and needs of the passenger in advance, amenities could be distributed when they are needed and can add the most value to the journey – and that doesn’t necessarily have to be onboard.”

Wessco curated the United-Therabody Polaris collaboration and Kara Cowan, Marketing Manager, describes the programme as “a gamechanger, redefining air travel. This initiative transcends conventional inflight amenities, offering a holistic wellness journey to United Airlines' passengers.”

The amenity kits, designed with eco-friendly materials and featuring the upscale TheraFace skincare line – known for its nourishing and hydrating properties – are key to a programme which goes beyond tangible products, adds Kara: “It also involves inflight media content, blending advertising with free Therabody TheraMind sessions. These relaxation and meditation offerings imbue the travel experience with moments of serenity and mindfulness – a significant leap in inflight entertainment.”

In Polaris lounges, passengers can experience Therabody’s wellness technologies, including

platform has been integrated with United's MileagePlus programme, providing a

Therabody’s extensive wellness product

Theraguns and RecoveryAir JetBoots. Meanwhile, Therabody’s e-commerce programme, providing a range.

Delighting passengers

Niklas Sandor, Chief Commercial Officer at FORMIA, says: “We view amenities as enablers that can build comfort, pamper and delight passengers inflight, whilst providing an extended, purposeful connection to the airline and brand post journey. As one of the few inflight products taken home, we believe that amenities are a key opportunity to make a real difference to the customer journey and beyond.”

His company curates consciously designed, meaningful products and experiences that add value to the passenger experience while considering functionality, sustainability and also aspects of wellbeing.

underserved communities,” he adds, citing the

“A recent trend we have seen for amenities programmes has been the shift in interest from airline customers towards partnering with purposeful brands who have shared values and common goals, particularly in terms of social responsibility and supporting their local and/or underserved communities,” he adds, citing the example of Japan Airlines’ Business class amenity kits featuring artwork from Heralbony, which empowers artists with intellectual disabilities to thrive through creating beautiful, meaningful art.

There have also been shifts towards

opportunities to select their amenities, and

There have also been shifts towards personalisation, by offering passengers opportunities to select their amenities, and digitalisation. QR codes are one way of encouraging passengers to continue their connection with brands and airlines online.

Yet Heidi Wagner Happel, Head of Consulting

Yet Heidi Wagner Happel, Head of Consulting and Concept Development at KIDZbranding, sees amenity kits as an opportunity to introduce a digital pause during journeys: “Amenities could

On this page (clockwise from above): Bag containing Therabody goggles; Skysupply's Benamôr amenity kit for TAP Air Portugal.

include elements that encourage children to engage in non-digital activities, fostering creativity, relaxation and mindfulness. This might involve incorporating traditional games, activity books, or puzzles that promote hands-on, screen-free entertainment, providing a refreshing break from digital devices and contributing to a more balanced and enjoyable travel experience for young passengers.”

Either way, Wolfgang Bücherl, Managing Director at Skysupply, is keen for a change in thinking: “The current limitations stem from a lack of innovation and design in amenity kit offerings. Traditional kits often prioritise function over form, missing opportunities for brand differentiation. Sustainability concerns also hinder progress. Suppliers must overcome these challenges by embracing innovative design, eco-friendly materials and strategic partnerships to present amenities as a cohesive part of the overall airline experience.”

become a canvas for innovative designs, incorporating eco-friendly materials and enhancing the passenger journey by offering a touch of luxury. Thoughtfully crafted kits contribute to a memorable travel experience, reflecting the airline's commitment to passenger comfort and environmental consciousness,” continues Wolfgang.

Looking beyond pure practicality, Jennifer Green, President at Procurall, shares a similar perspective and says that amenity kits are a canvas for creating impactful travel experiences:

“In the world of amenity kits, there's a vast, untapped potential for impactful storytelling and sustainability. Looking towards the future, we envision amenity kits as more than mere conveniences, they are ambassadors of culture, sustainability and personal engagement.”

Simon Yaffe, Director of Client Services at Buzz, embraces such a concept of forging connections: “Imagine receiving a kit with locally sourced items or culturally inspired design elements, each with a unique narrative, connecting you to the destination. This type of emotional and sensory engagement enhances the personal travel experience making it more memorable.”

Curated experiences

“Amenity kits have the potential to evolve into curated experiences, blending style and sustainability. Beyond practicality, they can

And as he points out, a highly desirable and practical amenity bag is collectable and can serve as a fond reminder long after a journey meaning it has, “the power to be just as meaningful as its use during the flight.” That, of course, makes them a valuable marketing tool. •

Transforming Travel for 40+ Years

WESSCO International specializes in branded amenities, passenger comfort items, food & beverage service ware, and a wide range of bespoke items for airlines worldwide. As your trusted partner, our mission remains to help you create exceptional experiences for your passengers.

www.wessco.net

Stay inghydrated

The dry cabin air combined with restricted water intake, leads to dehydration, resulting in travel fatigue, irritability and an increased risk of illness

Stuart Forster examines why oral hydration tablets may be more effective than drinking water for air passengers who want to stay optimally hydrated…

Passengers and crew on long-haul commercial flights breathe air drier than that of the Sahara Desert. Is embracing the use of oral rehydration tablets an effective way of counteracting the dehydrating effect of the cabin environment?

“Research shows that during a six-hour flight, passengers experience one to two litres of water loss, even when consuming a 400ml bottle of water. The dry cabin air combined with restricted water intake, leads to dehydration, resulting in travel fatigue, irritability and an increased risk of illness,” explains Dan Cray, Founder of Phizz, an oral hydration tablets available to First class passengers on Emirates' flights.

Dehydration and jet lag

Industry consultant Steve Harvey works with Clinova, who O.R.S hydration tablets are available

for purchase on Emirates flights. He adds: “The human brain is composed of 75% water and the dry cabin air, plus the effects of tea, coffee and alcohol, can quickly lead to dehydration. Even a 2% drop in hydration levels can result in tiredness, fatigue and hangover-like sensations. We usually call this jet lag but, in reality, it is largely due to the effects of dehydration.”

“It's all very well encouraging passengers to drink plenty of water throughout the flight but the human body has a limited capacity and passengers may be fearful of drinking too much resulting in numerous trips to the bathroom,” he adds, pointing out that oral rehydration solutions can help save airlines from spending on some of the plastic water bottles – along with associated fuel and storage costs – that must be transported, distributed and then disposed of.

Oral rehydration tablets are sold in compact, easy-to-carry tubes. Convenient for travellers

to slip inside of a bag or pocket, the tablets can be easily dissolved in a cup or bottle of water to create a hydrating drink.

Rapid rehydration

Cray states that Phizz hydrates three times faster than regular water. Meanwhile, Harvey explains that hydration products, such as O.R.S, contain electrolytes and essential minerals designed to help the body absorb water faster, meaning that a glass containing a couple of dissolved tablets can have an impact comparable to drinking four or five glasses of plain water.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have guidelines for the composition of oral rehydration solutions, including the concentration of glucose and electrolytes. Glucose enhances the absorption of sodium and water. Electrolytes, including sodium, potassium and chloride are critical for their effectiveness.

Nita Talwar, Founder and CEO of Uppy!, another of the oral rehydration products currently available, explains that ingredients such as sodium, potassium and magnesium “play a crucial role in maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance in the body.”

“Hydration tablets can be a healthy option when used appropriately and as part of an overall balanced diet,” she asserts.

“While water is essential for hydration, it may lack these electrolytes, especially after extended periods of physical activity or exposure to dry cabin air during flights,” she adds and suggests that airlines could provide hydration tablets to help passengers and crew maintain optimal hydration levels, contributing to their overall wellbeing during flights.

Enhancing the passenger experience

“Offering hydration tablets as part of inflight services can contribute to a positive passenger experience. It demonstrates the airline's commitment to passenger comfort and health, potentially improving customer satisfaction,” she argues, suggesting airlines should consider offering passengers samples of hydration tablets

and adding them to amenity kits. Talwar adds this could help airlines in creating a positive brand image.

Oral hydration tablets are available in a selection of flavours. Options with and without caffeine are available, so people can consume whatever is right for their body clock and travel plans.

Estimates of the global size of the market size for hydration products vary from between $850 million and $3.08 billion a year. Predictions for growth also vary markedly: both 6% and 13% a year numbers mentioned by analysts.

While there may be no agreement on numbers, Cray confidently states: “The global market for hydration tablets is on a rapid ascent…As consumer awareness of the vital benefits of hydration during travel continues to rise, the demand in aviation and travel retail is expected to soar.”

In an age of increased awareness about the benefits of looking after bodies and minds, oral hydration tablets appear to be a simple way of enhancing the travel experience during flights. •

Photos, from above: O.R.S is available in lemon flavour; Colourful tubes of flavoured Phizz oral hydration tablets.

How to improve...

...onboard accessibility

Travelling with a disability is tough. Julie Baxter identifies the challenges that passenger experience experts face when trying to help…

RECOGNISE THE CHALLENGE

When it comes to supporting those with disabilities, recognise that there is no 'one size fits all' solution. Each disabled individual has different needs from sight and hearing impairment to cognitive, physical and neuro-divergent challenges. The first step is to identify who you are trying to assist and focus on each disability in detail, considering the whole passenger experience.

DEEP DIVE RESEARCH

Research deeply from the ground up. Identify and connect with relevant user-groups and involve them in the design, prototype testing and revision of solutions. Don't expect to get everything right first time.

SEEK COLLABORATION

Travellers are likely to use many different operators so collaborate where possible. Don't compete on accessibility, work to make life easier for travellers with standardised set ups and processes across operators.

THINK BROADLY

Challenges to consider include physical access and mobility around the cabin for those with wheelchairs and walking aids. Sensory access for those who have sight or hearing impairments is too along with communication access for those who have speech or neuroimpairments. Sign language, closed captioning and personalised audio should all be on the agenda.

Sustainability is in the spotlight but what is the point of a beautiful clean earth if we don’t ensure fair and humane treatment for people of all abilitiest.

FACT FILE

contrasts, colour inversions and audio descriptors. Bluetooth connections to hearing aids and personal audio set ups are evolving.

IFEC solutions include font sizes,

Hear IFEC experts on the podcast onyourflighttoday. com (Series 2,Ep1).

IFEC LEADS THE WAY

So far, it is established tech companies leading the way in accessibility product development. Panasonic, Thales and Safran have all been digging deep into the challenges and have useful learnings to share. Corinne Streichert, founder of US-based IFEC consulting firm, IFECtiv, previously led the development of United Airlines' award-winning, accessibility IFE, launched five years ago. She says: "There needs to be a clear, well-researched vision of what the accessible experience needs to be onboard along with a defined strategy and buy-in from all internal stakeholders and suppliers. Most importantly, don’t underestimate the need to continuously test accessible solutions with passengers, conduct reviews and improve the product and remember ongoing development costs need to be factored in." •

The Thales Visually Impaired solution is set to take accessible IFE to the next level when it debuts in May/June 2024 on a North American carrier's 787-9.

HAMBURG, GERMANY

ECertified for success?

International Women’s Day is on March 8. Stuart Forster takes a look at certified women-owned businesses and their significance…

quality matters. All entrepreneurs with great ideas should be able to bring products to market and have a shot at achieving business success. Yet even in 2024 it’s debatable as to whether that is truly the case. Does certifying a business as womenowned help level an uneven playing field in which the odds are still stacked against femaleled success?

According to statistics quoted by the World Bank, women own approximately 30% of all registered businesses. Yet it identifies the lack of access to finance, networks, knowledge and links to high-value markets as key constraints to female entrepreneurship.

In the USA, businesses that are ‘at least 51% unconditionally and directly owned by women’ can apply to the US Small Business Association to self-certify as

Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). Each year, the federal government aims to award at least of 5% of contracting dollars to women-owned businesses.

North American networks

North of the border, the Universal Womens Network also applies the 51% qualification criteria for its Universal WomenOwned Certification. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), headquartered in Washington DC, is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the USA and offers WBENC Certification. Also DC-based, WEConnect International describes itself as 'a global network that connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers around the world.'

“I think that the women in business certification separates you and actually proves that you are womenowned,” says Jennifer Green, Co-Founder and President of Procurall, which received WBENC certification within a couple of months of the company’s establishment.

“We had a lot of brand partners, a few suppliers and a couple of the airlines: when we talked about doing something like this, they said you absolutely should,” she explains about one of the motivating factors to becoming WBENCcertified. “The supply chain, in general, is a male-dominated industry. So I think that was something different and it's almost a movement right now: so we thought that it was a great time to take advantage.”

Desire for certification

Procurall has, so far, experienced only positives as a result of the certification. “I don't know if there's any cons,” she adds. “I think it's definitely a benefit and just giving more of a voice to women: that, gender equality and DEI – Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.”

“It actually has a tie into sustainability if you're talking about the United Nations’ Global Compact and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” adds Jennifer, referencing that the fifth of the UN goals is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

“So it just made sense for us…We want to stay in the industry but want to do it in a little bit of a different way than we've seen it done before and think we're doing that,” she says of the approach taken along with Procurall’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fabienne Faure.

I think it's definitely a benefit and just giving more of a voice to women

“The certification has been well-received from both men and women,” notes Fabienne. She explains that each company has goals it wants to hit to stay relevant: “Women have been behind the scenes and now it's bringing them to the forefront. For a lot of airlines, it's a company goal. It's a commitment that they've made and that they want to bring forth. And I think everybody just wants to talk about it.”

“A lot of the airlines are actually asking for that certification, whether it's minority- or women-owned. It just solidifies that is truly what you are and that you've done the necessary steps to get the certification. Just like everybody wants the certification for rPET or their factory, I think it holds that type of clout,” she adds.

Questions about ownership

Asked about the pros and cons of such certification, Jennifer says that

It’s now common to see requests for proposals from airlines include questions about a company’s diversity and ownership.

Freedom, which became an International Flight Services Association member in 2023, was founded by Ira Green and three friends. “When it comes to raising money for companies, women get 2% of all the funding out there…We're 50% of the population and we only get 2% of the consideration. It's baffling to me,” says Ira.

“Women, for some reason, are not considered good ideas to invest in, which is crazy because statistics show that we are more successful than men are. We're just not part of the fold. When I started this company – even though I had a company before and sold it successfully – I was constantly told this is a really great hobby:

WBENC certification has gotten us into doors we would have never gotten into beforee

Doors to opportunities

we're in the Ritz-Carlton for goodness sake,” she says while shaking her head in disbelief.

“Somebody actually said to me once, you're either a good mother or you're a good CEO. You can't be both,” she recalls of another comment.

“WBENC certification has gotten us into doors we would have never gotten into before. Because a lot of larger corporations are requiring more diversification in their suppliers, we are able to talk to the people that we've never been able to get in front of,” says Ira. “It gives you an even playing field, as opposed to the guys that are going golfing with the CEO. We get in front of the buyers as well, so it gives us an opportunity.”

Beyond North America, Female Owned is a social enterprise based in Melbourne, Australia. It certifies female-owned businesses and also maintains a directory of members. In Europe, WEgate – the European Gateway for Women’s Entrepreneurship – is a network of women entrepreneurs that receives European Union funding. It fosters connections through networking, hosts webinars and facilitates training through the WEgate academy.

Monaco-based Anne de Hauw, Founder of IN Air Travel Experience, says: “Certified women-owned businesses bring invaluable perspectives and contributions to the airline and aviation industries. Beyond fulfilling diversity and inclusion goals, they offer unique insights, innovation and competitiveness.”

“These businesses foster a culture of empowerment and equality, driving positive change and setting benchmarks for corporate responsibility. Supporting women-owned enterprises in this sector not only promotes economic growth but also enhances the industry's reputation for inclusivity, ultimately leading to more dynamic and sustainable outcomes,” she observes.

onboardhospitality.com

Change is ongoing but it seems there is a long way to go on the road to true equality before the destination is reached. By air, it may be quicker? •

People on the Move

Here's an overview of a some of the senior appointments made recently. See onboardhospitality.com for more...

A year after joining Conetic, whose portfolio includes Touch, Marianna has been promoted from Vice President of Customer Experience to the company's EVP position.

After a spell as Chief Financial Officer, Sharon is now responsible for the business stability and growth the company that owns Compass Supply Solutions.

Marc is responsible for special meals programmes, focusing on delivering exceptional dining experiences for passengers with food allergies and intolerances.

AS: Board Advisor

InterLnkd, which has developed an intelligent product matching engine to boost ancillary revenue, has appointed Stuart as a board advisor. He continues to serve as EVP with Forbes Travel Guide.

Ashley’s focus will be driving sales growth and nurturing customer relationships in North America, aligning with Kaelis’ commitment to provide excellent service.

Now with United Airlines, Jenny has a passion for all things culinary and brings more than 20 years of airline industry experience to the team.

ALSO ON THE MOVE... >> oneworld alliance has appointed Nathaniel Pieper, Alaska Airlines' Senior Vice President of Fleet, Finance and Alliances, as CEO from April 1, 2024 >> Markus Binkert has left his position as Chief Financial Officer of Swiss International Air Lines to become CEO of the SV Group >> Sven Thaler has been appointed Lufthansa Group Airlines' Group Senior Director Sales for Northern Europe >> En Route has made several senior management appointments, including Dawn Collinson (Procurement Director) and David Collins (Supply Chain Director) >>

onboardhospitality.com

Conetic AS: Executive Vice President FROM: Internal

MARIANNA LEVY

CSS Group Ltd AS: Managing Director FROM: Internal

SHARON CROMPTON

JOINS: Foodcase International AS: Global Special Meals Programme Director

MARC WARDE

InterLnkd

STUART GREIF

JOINS: Kaelis AS: Regional Director, North America FROM: En Route

ASHLEY KERBER

JOINS: United Airlines AS: Director of Food and Beverage Programmes

JENNY JACKSON

Job board

These positions are available in the onboard services industry:

CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER

The successful candidate will lead revenue generating and commercial activities across all sectors for Intervine (supporting the travel industry since 1991).

Location: Napa, California

End Date: March 10, 2024

Contact: kate.schafer@intervineinc.com

CRUISE LINE SALES MANAGER

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving sales growth and building long term, positive customer relationships within the cruise line sector.

Location: Miami, Florida

End Date: March 10, 2024

Contact: kate.schafer@intervineinc.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Joining a growing team in Dubai, the successful candidate will meet and exceed regional sales and profit targets while delivering business strategies.

Location: Dubai, UAE

End Date: March 25, 2024

Contact: charlotte.walters@en-route.com

SALES DIRECTOR

Experienced and dynamic sales generator being sought by an international airline caterer/ retailer. Details will be provided on application.

Location: Flexible within Europe

End Date: March 31, 2024

Contact: roy@thehaywardpartnership.com

COMMENT

Giving Back

The Hayward Partnership is delighted to sponsor People on the Move, showcasing professional placements and promoting exciting job opportunities. Many of us working in the onboard services industry know it's not a traditional career path, although well worth the detour. How do we spread the word, attract new talent and give back?

Education: sponsor a scholarship through the likes of the IFSA Foundation Scholarship Fund which benefits IFSA members, their families and students pursuing a career in our industry.

Mentorship: share your knowledge and experience. it’s a two-way street inspiring young professionals and reminder of our passion for what we do. These worthwhile pursuits open eyes and minds to the possibilities and bring awareness to what our sector has to offer.

Scott Davies

Chief Executive

onboardhospitality.com

Lance Hayward Managing Director

How to...

introduce mentoring

The Hayward Partnership’s Mike Pooley outlines the benefits of mentoring programmes and empowering staff to be the best version of themselves.

Understand mentoring

Mentoring offers a competitive advantage to the next-gen workforce. Surveys show job seekers are attracted to companies with mentorship programmes facilitating upskilling and reskilling.

Mentoring results in enhanced job satisfaction and greater fulfilment.

Mentoring connects, meaning people are more likely to stay with an organisation, make more effort and experience greater happiness.

Also, mentoring protects, securing organisational knowledge before employees retire and keeping more senior employees engaged.

identify great mentors

Self-help author Bob Proctor described a mentor as “someone who sees more talent and ability within you then you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.“ Mentors do something selfless that can be lifechanging. The characteristics needed include being a good and active listener, curious, empathic, supportive and offering encouragement. It’s also key for mentors to be alert, genuinely present and responsible, and at all times to act as a critical, honest and responsible friend.

Plan effectively

Launching and running an effective mentorship programme requires more than just assigning mentees to mentors and waiting for the magic to happen. The entire organisation must ‘buy in’ to the opportunity.

fact file

A 2021 CNBC / SurveyMonkey workplace happiness survey revealed 91% of workers with mentors reported a high degree of job satisfaction.

89% of mentored

people say they will mentor others. Understand roles and their differences when setting up programmes. A mentor is not a therapist, nor a counsellor or a business coach.

Three common goals of the initiative should be mentorship for career development, onboarding new employees and knowledge sharing. Three typical models are one-onone, group and team mentoring. Sessions are usually one hour in length, every three or four weeks over a six to 12 month period.

The mentor will build a programme around checking in, discovering, testing and enabling potentials and performance.

aPPly PrinciPles wisely

Reflection should occur naturally between mentoring sessions.

Mentees should apply learnings, trial ideas, reference day to day scenarios and identify working examples to share in future meetings. It is crucial to create safe and secure space to hold the sessions and regularly follow up by surveying participants and collecting feedback. •

Empowering the connected travel boom

Eric Diamond , Vice President Aviation at SES, says that satellites in GEO, LEO and MEO orbits are set to elevate passenger experiences in the air…

2024 may be the year that sees the connected travel boom truly take off to new heights, as more satellite capacity is launched into multiple orbits in space.

Business and commercial jet passengers are boarding flights in record numbers with their mobile phones, laptops and skyhigh expectations for a seamless travel experience. They want the same level of connectivity and entertainment that is delivered through broadband while they are on the ground.

Satellite capacity use soars

Increasingly, passengers are basing their airline and flight choices on the availability of quality inflight connectivity. A growing number of airlines provide free Wi-Fi to frequent flyers. Delta is among the airlines offering free Wi-Fi – a real differentiator that allows passengers to browse the internet, explore and enjoy entertainment options as well as to send and receive emails and texts.

Increasingly, passengers are basing their airline and flight choices on the availability of quality inflight connectivity

Airlines providing free inflight connectivity (IFC) for passengers will change the dynamics in play over the coming years, reports Northern Sky Research (NSR). More airlines and satellite operators will make changes to their current business models to meet connectivity demand in flight.

In 2023 Valour Consultancy reported that the number of connected aircraft soared past the 10,000 milestone. The trend is continuing to rise with unprecedented demand for connectivity and entertainment services on flights.  Satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) have long enabled IFC. They provide reliable connectivity with legacy and new aero antennas aboard aircraft flying in most regions of the world. NSR expects demand for GEO high-throughput satellite (HTS) connectivity to grow from 35Gbps (gigabits per second) to more than 1.5Tbps (terabits per second) by 2032 with a revenue opportunity of $6.5 billion.   Demand for air travel is driving up the

number of new aircraft worldwide and IFC is fast becoming a growing differentiator and revenue stream. GEO-HTS capacity will drive retail revenues for narrowbody aircraft, which NSR expects to grow the fastest among all the airframes, and surpass 40,000 in service by 2032.

That represents almost 76% of the commercial aviation market opportunity through the decade. Widebody commercial jets will play a part in driving demand for GEO capacity as well. Delta, for example, expects to offer Wi-Fi across its widebody fleet in 2024.

Euroconsult reports IFC currently consumes about 100Gbps of global GEO satellite capacity and that’s expected to jump ten-fold by 2030 to meet demand.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service providers have also officially entered the aero market for a slice of the growing IFC pie. Hawaiian Airlines and JSX passengers are both using LEO-delivered email and

web-browsing services.

SES’ Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, already a big factor in delivering highspeed broadband services to cruise ships everywhere, offer lower-latency connectivity LEO-like capacity and will soon open the door to better streaming and gaming services inflight as well as business-related capabilities such as video conferencing.

Connected air travel

Given the airlines’ diverse and varied needs for connectivity, growing fleet sizes and the market pressures to offer IFC, it’s clear that aero service providers need to deploy multiorbit systems. Airlines will need a new level of layered, multi-orbit inflight connectivity that combines GEO-, MEO- and LEO-based capacity over major travel routes and busy airport hubs.

SES owns and operates over 70 GEO and MEO satellites and is well-placed to meet evolving demands for inflight connectivity.

Airlines will need a new level of layered, multiorbit inflight connectivity that combines GEO-, MEO- and LEObased capacity over major travel routes and busy airport hubs

Our GEO satellites provide bandwidth to about one-quarter of the 10,000 connected aircraft flying today.

The SES-17, is one of the world’s leading Ka-band GEO spacecraft. The advanced bird is powering Thales’ FlytLIVE IFC service across most of US-based Spirit Airlines’ fleet of commercial aircraft.

Our second-generation MEO constellation, O3b mPOWER, is on the verge of game-changing services in the aero market.

The industry is quickly transitioning to a multi-orbit approach to provide high-throughput, low-latency, and high-speed connectivity to airlines. This multi-orbit system will enable passengers to experience fast and reliable fibre-like connectivity in the air so they can enjoy the internet onboard just as they do on the ground.

A technological transformation

The aviation industry is in a landmark transformation driven by new technologies and capabilities. NSR estimates the IFC market represents an annual retail revenue opportunity of nearly $10 billion by 2032.

Future advancements in electronically steered antennas (ESAs) designed to mount flush with the fuselage of a plane and link simultaneously with satellites in GEO, LEO, and MEO will help unleash the full potential and the muc-anticipated promise of multi-orbit inflight connectivity.

Once operational, ESAs could change market dynamics, according to NSR’s 2023 Aeronautical Satcom Markets report but they won’t come

The aviation industry is in a landmark transformation driven by new technologies and capabilities

cheap or even on time, in some cases, due to integration and enduring supply chain woes. In its latest  Future of Flat Panel Antennas report, Valour says a growing number of ESAs are being developed. In time, these nextgeneration flat panels could ultimately help passengers realise the benefits of multi-orbit connectivity on planes, trains, cars and cruise ships, as new satellite capacity is turned up in LEO and MEO orbits.   While a sizeable share of demand for flat panels is expected to come from the maritime sector, with cruise passengers already getting a taste of the connected journey over MEO and LEO, the commercial aero market is expected to be among the most lucrative. Commercial airlines are gradually reviewing the technical advancements of ESAs and how they can help them differentiate their brand in the battle for bookings.

In addition to the orbit, how the

connectivity and ground- and cloudbased infrastructure open new possibilities and new capabilities inflight matter. Cloud acceptance is gaining traction among an increasing number of airlines as they look to differentiate their brand and close the inflight digital divide. Overall passenger demand for IFC is rising significantly, supporting the industry’s move to cloud-based platforms. According to NSR, onboard infrastructure must adapt to meet these needs – regardless of the orbit or architecture.

Multi-orbit satellite capacity will ultimately enable a seamless connected travel journey and for airlines to transition across the digital divide. Layered ubiquitous coverage in the sky will deliver IFC services that are similar to the seamless mobile phone connectivity that we enjoy while moving on the ground.

Satellite operators, along with IFC service providers and next-gen technologies are introducing gamechanging capacity and capabilities in space and on the ground to empower the connected travel boom in decades to come.

SIERRA PORTABLE IFE

Capable of installations in overhead bins, Sierra is battery operated and can stream video, audio, digital magazine content and more for over 12 hours. It offers up to two terabytes of storage and application programming interfaces (APIs) are available. astronics.com

BLUEBOX WOW

Lightweight and compact, Wow hardware is available in battery- and aircraftpowered versions. It is an option for hosting Blueview software that supports entertainment, retail and other digital services. blueboxaviation.com

Portable IFE options

Inflight entertainment (IFE) does not necessarily need a retrofit. Stuart Forster looks at six portable options...

AIRFI

EVERHUB

FLYMINGO

Packed inside of a 10-inch frame, the Flymingo Box is light in weight and used by more than 20 airlines worldwide to provide premium contents. Streaming automatically pauses during announcements and power can be supplied by battery or the aircraft. moment.tech

The AirFi box is available as a fully portable, installed or hybrid solution, creating an onboard Wi-Fi network and supplying connectivity via a pen-sized antenna. It is used by airlines and rail operators to facilitate sales through AirFi's Connected Crew solution and to provide entertainment via a customisable user experience that embraces third-party developers. airfi.aero

Inflight Dublin's wireless IFE product provides both a broad choice of content and opportunities to generate revenue. The Everhub Portable Server can be powered by batteries or from the aircraft and has a removable solid-state drive (SSD) which enables remote content loading and 4G synching of updates. inflightdublin.com

ADONIS ONE

Weighing three pounds (1.36kg) or less, Adonis One is a carry-on IFE device whose batteries that last up to 12 hours. It enables up to 500 passengers to stream movies, reading matter and music to their personal electronic devices (PEDs). adonisone.com

onboardhospitality.com

What's new at WTCE in 2024?

WHAT:

WTCE

WHERE:

Hamburg Messe

WHEN:

May 28-30, 2024

Showcasing onboard product innovations and services, the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) will embrace new features in 2024 and see others return.

Steps to Sustainability will celebrate innovations and accomplishments by companies using environmentally conscious materials, operations and production. A curated range of onboard products will be featured, including organic foods and drinks plus amenities and tableware items.

WTCE’s organisers have announced the appointment of an official expert ambassador panel. The ambassadors include Creative Nature’s CEO, Julianne Ponan MBE; travel dietitian and nutritionist Melissa Adamski; JetVine's Kelly Stevenson and Matt Crane, Co-Founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum. They will help highlight three of WTCE’s main topics: health and wellbeing, food and drink plus sustainability.

Returning in 2024

Following its introduction in 2023, Wellbeing Walkthrough returns. It will again showcase products supporting wellbeing, including healthy food and beverages, soft goods and amenity products.

What's New Onboard will also be back, presenting products new to the onboard market. So too will Taste of Travel, produced in association with Onboard Hospitality, featuring informative sessions with industry thought leaders.

Additionally, the VIP Buyer Lounge will be back. As will the New Exhibitor Village, dedicated to showcasing new and exciting exhibitors who offer onboard products.

“This year’s WTCE event promises to be particularly exciting, with a variety of unique

features for 2024. We are particularly proud of our new ambassador scheme which features industry-leading individuals who are sure to bring a different dimension to the event. We once again look forward to bringing the show floor to life with a powerful combination of top-quality visitors, world-leading exhibitors and innovative educational features,” commented Polly Magraw, Event Director of WTCE.

Onboard Hospitality will feature an extensive WTCE preview in our next issue. With advertising slots filling fast, please get in touch to highlight your key products in our editorial coverage of the show. worldtravelcateringexpo.com

FTE heads to Dublin's fair city

What: FTE EMEA

Where: Dublin

When: June 11-13, 2024

The Dublin RDS –founded in 1731 as the Royal Dublin Society – has been transforming ideas into actions for almost 300 years. So it is a fitting venue for Future Travel Experience's co-located 2024 EMEA and Ancillary and Retailing shows.

The theme of this FTE event is Where air transport meets innovation. Progressive designers, innovators and digital leaders, active at the avant garde of various aspects of air transport, will meet to do business and develop ideas, ultimately helping to reimagine travel. The passenger experience, sustainability and safety are among topics of collaboration at this Dublin gathering. So too are operations, commercial activities as well as associated services and products.

The three-day event combines an exhibition, interactive workshops, conference sessions and more. Over 100 speakers will participate in the FTE EMEA Conference, sharing expert insights and

Into June

What: World Passenger Festival 2024

Where: Vienna

When: June 25-26, 2024

Hall D of Messe

Wien is set to host over 3,000 delegates and 50 exhibitors during a two-day event focusing on passenger transport and mobility. The World Passenger Festival will have more than 250 speakers across eight conference tracks. Key topics include retail and e-commerce, next-gen payments, onboard connectivity plus sustainability. terrapinn.com/ conference/passenger-festival/index.stm

knowledge, at which Steve Greenway, CEO at flyadeal, is a keynote speaker. Members can participate in the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group meeting at Dublin Airport. The City of Dublin Walking Tour is a way to orientate. futuretravelexperience.com/fte-emea

Out to sea

What: Shippax Ferry Conference

Where: Baltic Sea

When: May 13-15, 2024

The Shippax Ferry Conference will take place aboard the MS Baltic Queen during a sailing from Stockholm, Sweden, to Tallinn, Estonia, and back. The 2024 event follows on from 2023's conference aboard Grimaldi Lines' Cruise Barcelona during a return sailing between Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia, Italy. 500 delegates are expected to attend. shippaxferryconference.com

onboardhospitality.com

CALENDAR

March 18-21

Satellite 2024 Conference and Exhibition

Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC satshow.com

aPrIL 16-18

The Railway Interior Innovation Summit North America

Montreal railway-interiorinnovation-canada. redcabin.de

May 14-16

Future Travel Experience's Aviation and Robotics Summit Pittsburg futuretravel experience.com/ aviation-roboticssummit