Dave

Flydubai unveils new Premium Business Class seat with enhanced comfort and privacy

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Dubai-based airline flydubai, has announced the launch of its latest premium business class seat, the Business Suite. This new product is designed to provide passengers with added comfort, privacy and an exceptional onboard experience.

The Business Suite, which has been exclusively designed for single-aisle aircraft, represents the latest evolution in flydubai’s Business Class offering. The carrier plans to introduce ten of these suites on some of its newest aircraft before the end of 2023.

Business Suite: the first aircraft featuring the new Business Suite is expected to join the flydubai fleet in November

The new seat will offer all passengers in Business Class direct aisle access, rivaling the Business Class experience on many wide-body aircraft.

Flydubai is the launch customer for this new seat. Close collaboration with Safran Seats, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft seats, and JPA Design, a multinational design company operating in the transportation, interiors, and product design arenas, has resulted in a uniquely flydubai and best-in-class Business Class seating product.

The Business Suite features enhanced privacy and comfort, making it an ideal choice for business travellers seeking a premium travel experience.

With its elegant design and spacious layout, passengers can enjoy a relaxing and productive journey, with a range of features and amenities that include a fully-flat bed, in-flight entertainment, and ample storage space for personal belongings.

Furthermore, the direct aisle access ensures that passengers can easily move around the cabin without disturbing others. This feature is particularly beneficial for business travellers who need to work on the go, as it provides easy access to the cabin crew and allows them to remain productive throughout their flight.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said:

flydubai is committed to exceeding expectations. Our business and product offerings have evolved from the initial no-frills model over the past 14 years to cater to the ever-growing needs of our customers and the markets we operate to. We have come a long way since the introduction of our first Business Class offering in 2013, which has served us well. Today, we are proud to unveil a new premium product which rivals the Business Class experience offered by many airlines on wide-body aircraft. We will continue to invest in innovation to enhance the customer experience across our growing fleet.

Daniel Kerrison, Vice President of Inflight Product at flydubai, said:

The new business suite will take comfort on board to the next level. The increased height of the back-shell, a sliding suite door and direct aisle access for every passenger create a level of privacy never before seen on Boeing 737s.

We have been working with Safran Seats and JPA Design over the past three years to develop an experience that meets the growing demand for premium air travel services across our network, offering passengers wide-body comfort on our narrow-body fleet.”

Flydubai’s latest premium business class offering is tailored to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of UK-based business travellers.

The carrier’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction make it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality travel experience that combines style, comfort and functionality.

The Business Suite represents a significant upgrade to flydubai’s existing Business Class offering, providing enhanced privacy, comfort, and an exceptional onboard experience. With its range of features and amenities, including a fully-flat bed, in-flight entertainment, and direct aisle access, the Business Suite is should become a favourite among discerning business travellers.

Victoria Foy, CEO of Safran Seats, said,

We are very excited to have flydubai as our launch customer for flydubai’s “The Business Suite” VUE seat, it has been an exciting journey working together to bring this product to the market for the first time on a Boeing aircraft. flydubai will operate with an outstanding Business Class seat designed for the best onboard experience on single-aisle longer haul flights.

In summary, the Business Suite is a welcome addition to flydubai’s already impressive Business Class offering, providing passengers with enhanced comfort, privacy and an exceptional onboard experience.

Dave

Virgin Atlantic to resume daily flights to Shanghai, boosting travel opportunities for UK business travellers

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Virgin Atlantic is set to restart its highly anticipated flights to Shanghai, renewing vital business and leisure connections between the United Kingdom and China.

The daily service will resume on 1 May, 2023, with fares starting from £432 per person, making it an affordable option for UK business travellers looking to connect with their Chinese counterparts.

This move comes in the wake of relaxed travel restrictions between the two countries, which now allow foreign nationals to enter China for the first time since 23 December 2020.

Melting pot: Shanghai is one of the world’s most important financial centres

Shanghai is Virgin Atlantic’s final route to be reinstated following the global pandemic, having been affected by suspensions and closures since 1 February, 2020.

Since the restart announcement earlier this year, there has been a surge in demand for both business and leisure travel in both directions.

China is a crucial trading partner for the UK, and as the country’s largest city, the relaunched route will be an important connector for the UK and China. Shanghai boasts a world-renowned commercial and financial centre with one of the world’s largest cargo hubs. Furthermore, the city offers UK tourists a melting pot of culture, from the futuristic skyline of Pudong district to the traditional pavilions in Yu Gardens.

Virgin Atlantic’s Shanghai flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9, offering a range of experiences across three cabins; Upper Class, Premium, and three classes of Economy – Delight, Classic, and Light. This means that UK business travellers can enjoy a comfortable and affordable journey to China’s most populous city.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic said,

The restart of our services to Shanghai is a major milestone for Virgin Atlantic. Shanghai was the first of our routes to be suspended in 2020 at the start of the global pandemic and the last to return, making it the final piece to restore our flying programme to full capacity.

After such a long hiatus, we’re looking forward to welcoming our customers back to Shanghai and providing vital links to one of the UK’s largest trading partners, for both passenger and cargo services.”

In addition to its direct flights to Shanghai, Virgin Atlantic also offers connections to its new SkyTeam partner, China Eastern, which has a hub in the city. This partnership provides Virgin Atlantic customers with a wide range of connections throughout China and beyond, making it easier for UK business travellers to reach their destination.

Flying Club members will soon have the opportunity to earn and redeem Virgin Points across China Eastern’s flying programme, along with many other SkyTeam partners. This makes it even easier for UK business travellers to earn rewards while travelling for work.

In conclusion, the resumption of Virgin Atlantic’s flights to Shanghai is a welcome development for UK business travellers looking to connect with their Chinese counterparts. With competitive fares, comfortable flights, and access to a wide range of connections, this route is set to become an essential part of any UK business traveller’s itinerary.

Customers travelling to China will need to show proof of a negative PCR test before they enter the country, alongside a health declaration form. 


Dave

London Gatwick Airport unveils new brand identity and vision

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London Gatwick has unveiled its new brand identity and refreshed vision, reflecting its strong ongoing recovery from the pandemic, providing a platform for the airport’s next phase of growth and supporting significant economic opportunities for the region.

Acknowledging the airport’s proud history, the new, modernised brand is designed to reaffirm and showcase London Gatwick’s position as a major international gateway. It also recognises the airport as part of the broader VINCI Airports network.

Gatwick rebrand: launch aligns with significant investment in improvements across the airport



The vision – To be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey – focuses on delivering a personalised experience to meet passengers’ individual needs.

Underpinning the vision is a strengthened focus and investment on simplifying the journey through the airport by focusing on ease, efficiency and experience. This will allow passengers more time to shop, have a drink, or finish some last-minute work calls or emails.

Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said,

This is a perfect time for us to launch our new brand and refreshed vision, as we head into our second year of recovery from the global pandemic and look to embark on a very promising chapter of growth.

We are taking a multi-dimensional approach, combining investment in airport development, along with a new visual identity, to rejuvenate the image of London Gatwick.

We expect this will translate to more people choosing to fly from the airport, with even more exciting destinations for passengers.

Our previous brand served us well for over ten years, but it’s now the right time to modernise and update our airport.

As we look ahead to future growth, our refreshed brand celebrates the past and brings us into the future.

Accompanying the new brand and vision is an exciting multi-million pound development programme.

Social: new branding appears across Gatwick’s digital channels

This significant programme of investment includes the expansion and refurbishment of departure lounges to create more modern, appealing spaces for passengers, while at the same time considering the airport’s sustainability goals.

It will also focus on accelerating automation in cutting-edge improvements across check-in and boarding, as well as enhanced airfield technology. A multi-million-pound upgrade of Gatwick Airport railway station is also on-track for completion later this year.

The new branding can already be seen across many of Gatwick’s digital and social channels, as well as key focal points within the airport. Over the coming months passengers, airport partners and colleagues will see it come to life across the airport.

Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport and is a vital piece of national infrastructure that helps drive both the regional and national economy.

More than 40 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 45 long-haul destinations. The airport is focused on rebuilding and growing sustainably in the long term. It has ambitious plans to be a net zero airport by 2030 and increase capacity by bringing its Northern runway into routine use.

VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99% interest. The world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates more than 65 airports in twelve countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimising operational performance, modernizing infrastructures and managing their operations and environmental transition.

VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to a global international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emission across its entire network by 2050.

Dave

STARLUX Airlines’ premium service now available for UK business travellers through Alaska Airlines partnership

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Alaska Airlines has announced a partnership with its newest global airline partner, STARLUX Airlines, which is great news for UK-based business travellers looking to travel to Taipei or Los Angeles.

STARLUX is a premium carrier based in Taipei and has recently launched its inaugural transpacific service between Taipei and Los Angeles, making it an excellent choice for those travelling on business.

City of Angels: Los Angeles is one of Alaska’s hubs along the West Coast.

When redemptions become available this summer on STARLUX flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, they will start at:

  • 20,000 miles for economy,
  • 40,000 for premium economy and
  • 60,000 for business class for a limited time.

STARLUX operates the transpacific route with its new-generation Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured in a four-class layout: First, business, premium economy and economy.

Glenn Chai, CEO of STARLUX Airlines said,

STARLUX Airlines has marked a successful three-year operation of our Asian routes, revolutionising the aviation industry with our exceptional service and innovative cabin design that have been highly commended by passengers. In a new milestone, we launched our inaugural flight to Los Angeles, offering convenient and comfortable long-haul premier services to passengers traveling to the City of Angels.

Alaska Airlines, the fifth largest airline in the United States with a wide network covering over 100 cities across the country, is partnering with STARLUX Airlines to deliver more exquisite and convenient flights for travellers journeying between North America and Asia. The partnership will enable seamless connections for STARLUX Airlines customers traveling to destinations across the U.S., making it easier and more convenient to navigate the country’s extensive domestic air network. With this partnership, we are committed to ensuring that travellers enjoy a hassle-free journey and arrive at their final destinations feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Inflight service on STARLUX includes Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for passengers in all classes.

STARLUX will be offering first and business guests a selection of the best top chefs’ creations and local Taiwanese delicacies, including the popular STARLUX signature dish yakiniku donburi served on board.

To bring greater individuality to their air travel experience, all passengers can pre-order meals online, so they can enjoy the meal they want. The news of Alaska’s partnership with STARLUX follows last year’s partnership announcement with Air Tahiti Nui.

This partnership between Alaska Airlines and STARLUX Airlines is excellent news for UK-based business travellers looking for a premium carrier with a strong transpacific presence. With the ability to earn and redeem miles on STARLUX flights, business travellers can now enjoy a more seamless and rewarding travel experience. Furthermore, the inflight service and signature dishes offered by STARLUX are sure to impress even the most discerning business traveller.

Dave

BA Euroflyer expands in-flight options for UK business travellers with new menus and new destinations

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British Airways’ Gatwick-based short-haul subsidiary, BA Euroflyer, has expanded its in-flight options for customers, with new menus and fresh food available to purchase on-board, alongside the introduction of new destinations.

BA Euroflyer, British Airways’ Gatwick-based short-haul subsidiary, has announced exciting new changes to its in-flight experience for UK-based business travellers.

Working with its retail partner, Tourvest, the airline has expanded its onboard options, introducing new menus and fresh food for customers to purchase during their flight.

Previously, customers were only able to pre-order fresh food or buy ambient snacks during their journey. But now, they can purchase a range of fresh options on-board, including Sweet & Spicy Falafel wraps and Tom Kerridge Chicken Coronation sandwiches. These can be paired with Jimmy’s Iced Coffee or Punchy soft drinks, available to purchase on-board without pre-ordering. The full Speedbird Café menu can be viewed here.

BA Euroflyer: a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways

For customers travelling in Club Europe, British Airways offers complimentary drinks and a full meal service as part of their ticket. The airline has launched new seasonal menus for lunch or dinner, featuring dishes such as lemon pepper roasted chicken salad, wild mushroom risotto, and chickpea and curried coconut salad. First thing in the morning, customers can enjoy a traditional English breakfast, cheese omelette, or a charcuterie board. Afternoon tea is also available, with a variety of finger sandwiches and sweet treats.

BA Euroflyer is also expanding its fresh food options on longer short-haul flights from Heathrow. From the end of April, customers on flights over three hours will be able to purchase fresh produce during their flight, in addition to the current pre-purchase fresh food option. The airline plans to roll this out across the short-haul network, with other selected routes to follow in the coming months.

Tom Stoddart, Chief Executive Officer of BA Euroflyer and Cityflyer, said,

We know that some customers want to order items in the moment, so we are delighted to give Euro Traveller customers the option to not only to pre-purchase, but to also order fresh food during the flight.

For those travelling in Club Europe, we have a number of delicious complimentary dishes and drinks for them to select from. We want to set ourselves apart from other carriers at Gatwick.

We are the only airline to offer a business class product on every flight and a loyalty programme, coupled with our competitive fares, we have something to suit all.

In addition to these in-flight changes, BA Euroflyer has recently added Sharm El Sheikh to its growing network. The service will operate three times per week from 3 November throughout the winter season, with a fourth service on Saturdays until 15 December 2023. Executive Club Members can enjoy 100% of seats available on the inaugural Avios-Only flight. BA Euroflyer is also adding a brand new service to Montpellier in France from 27 May, operating three times weekly.

These changes and additions to BA Euroflyer’s offering are sure to appeal to UK-based business travellers looking for a convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable travel experience.

With fresh food options, seasonal menus, and new destinations, BA Euroflyer is continuing to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of its customers.


Dave

New full peak timetable for Elizabeth line improves connectivity and access for UK business travellers

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Starting on Sunday, May 21st, 2023, the Elizabeth line will introduce its full peak timetable, bringing increased train frequencies and extended peak times to improve connectivity for UK-based business travellers.

During peak hours, trains will now run every two and a half minutes between Paddington and Whitechapel, with frequencies increased to up to 24 trains per hour in both directions, giving commuters a quicker and more efficient journey to their destination.

During off-peak hours, the frequency will be 16 trains per hour, ensuring business travellers can still get to their appointments on time.

Mayor: the last milestone of the Crossrail project

In addition, the frequency of trains between Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood will be restored to a train running approximately every five minutes, with 12 trains per hour during peak hours, and the peak time period itself will be extended, increasing capacity even further.

The Elizabeth line will also run all day between Shenfield and Heathrow Airport (Terminal 5) for the first time, with two trains per hour providing direct connectivity between Essex, east London and west London.

For those travelling from Liverpool Street National Rail station (platforms 15 -17) to Gidea Park, there will be additional peak time services, providing a faster route for those exiting to Bishopsgate.

Meanwhile, Reading will see an increase in peak services, with some trains that were previously operated by Great Western Railway transferring to become Elizabeth line services with reduced stops.

As part of this new timetable, there will be no significant pauses for trains between Paddington and Acton Main Line, reducing journey times between Reading and Paddington and improving journey times for those travelling from the west into central London.

Furthermore, Heathrow Airport will receive more frequent services, with a total of six Elizabeth trains per hour all day, stopping at Terminal 2&3, with four per hour continuing to Terminal 4, and two per hour continuing to Terminal 5.

Heathrow Airport has also improved its signage, making it clearer for customers, particularly those visiting London or using the Elizabeth line for the first time.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

Delivering the Elizabeth line has been transformational for our city, with hundreds of thousands of Londoners and visitors now enjoying the fast and reliable trains each day.

The introduction of the final timetable next month marks the last milestone of the Crossrail project and will enable the Elizabeth line to provide even more frequent, speedier journeys and better connect the capital.

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said:

The Elizabeth line has transformed the lives of Londoners and the experience for visitors to the city in just under a year of TfL operating the service.

With this new timetable, those travelling through central London will have a train arriving around every two and a half minutes, those using Heathrow Airport will have more regular services, and time will be shaved off many journeys from Reading, Heathrow and into central London.

Those on the east will also benefit from twice hourly services to the airport, linking Essex and west London on the line for the first time.

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, marks one year of Transport for London (TfL) operating the Elizabeth line, and more than 140 million customer journeys have taken place so far, with around 600,000 journeys being made each weekday.

This demonstrates the Elizabeth line’s increasing popularity and importance to London’s transport network, providing a valuable resource to UK-based business travellers.


Dave

New Luton Airport Express train service offers business travellers fast and affordable transport to London Luton Airport

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Business Travellers can now benefit from a new rail service, providing quick and easy access from central London to London Luton Airport (LLA) for as little as £10.

Luton Airport Express: dedicated train service launched by East Midlands Railway

Operated by East Midlands Railway, the new non-stop Luton Airport Express runs from London St Pancras to Luton Airport Parkway station, where passengers can transfer seamlessly onto the brand-new Luton DART shuttle to reach the terminal.

With trains departing every 30 minutes from early morning to late at night Monday to Saturday, and regular services on Sundays, business travellers can enjoy a convenient, fast and eco-friendly way to reach the airport.

The Luton DART shuttle runs 24 hours a day, taking customers from the train station to the airport terminal and providing an overall journey time to or from central London of just 32 minutes.

Simon Pready, Commercial Director of East Midlands Railway, said,

EMR’s Luton Airport Express will provide customers travelling from the capital and the south, a convenient, fast and environmentally friendly way to get to the airport – with a trip taking as little as 32 minutes and costing from as little as £10 – it’s a great option.

Along with the introduction of DART, the Luton Airport Express represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the town and we are proud to be part of such an environmentally and economically important project.

I’m personally looking forward to speaking to our customers to find out where they are jetting off to.

London Luton Airport’s CEO, Alberto Martin, added,

Taking just 32 minutes door-to-door, the launch of the transformational Luton Airport Express means that London Luton Airport has never been closer to central London. The service will provide a faster, more frequent and more convenient connection from train to plane, making LLA one of the capital’s best-connected airports and supporting its mission to deliver a simple, friendly end-to-end passenger experience.

Luton Airport is one of many other UK airports business travellers can reach by train. Tickets can be purchased through Global Travel Management.

London Luton Airport is ranked as the best performing company by GRESB, an internationally recognised sustainability framework that benchmarks environmental, social and governance (ESG) management and performance. LLA is ranked first among all participating assets, achieving a maximum score of 100 and a 5-star rating.

With the Luton Airport Express, business travellers can enjoy a seamless and efficient journey to and from Luton Airport at a competitive price. Contact Global Travel Management today to learn more about booking train tickets to Luton or other UK airports.

Dave

Norwegian Air partners with Anuvu to launch enhanced high-speed WiFi for European flights

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Norwegian Air has renewed its partnership with Anuvu, making it the first airline outside North America to launch Anuvu’s high-speed WiFi technology, improving the internet experience onboard and enhancing the customer experience for UK-based business travellers.

Norwegian Air has renewed its partnership with Anuvu, a leading provider of high-speed WiFi technology, to bring reliable and fast internet access to its fleet of aircraft.

Pioneering: Norwegian Air Shuttle will become the first Anuvu Dedicated Space™ connectivity customer outside of North America

Norwegian will be the first airline outside of North America to launch Anuvu’s cutting-edge technology, which will provide stable and fast WiFi that is 20 times faster than what is currently available.

This move is aimed at enhancing the customer experience and offering a seamless in-flight WiFi experience to the UK-based business travellers.

The technology will be installed on Norwegian’s new aircraft deliveries and will gradually be rolled out across the fleet, giving passengers the ability to browse, stream, upload, and download at high speeds. In addition, Anuvu’s technology has extra bandwidth, which allows up to ten times as many customers to access the internet simultaneously without impacting performance.

Norwegian’s Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Christoffer Sundby, said,

We are very excited about this renewed partnership with Anuvu.

We expect to be able to start rolling out the new solution within the next year, significantly improving the WiFi solutions we offer our customers.

We are constantly working on developing and improving our services on board and having a seamless, stable WiFi experience in the air is critical to many of our customers – making it one of our most important priorities

The implementation of Anuvu’s WiFi technology is expected to enhance customers’ internet experience onboard and enable the crew to deliver more onboard services by improving the information flow between the aircraft and airport operations.

Norwegian was the first airline to offer WiFi on single-aisle aircraft in Europe in 2011, and the renewal of the partnership with Anuvu shows their commitment to delivering excellent customer experience through cutting-edge technology.

As business travel resumes post-pandemic, reliable WiFi on board will become a crucial factor for UK-based business travellers, and Norwegian’s decision to renew their partnership with Anuvu will certainly appeal to this market.

With the rollout of Anuvu’s technology, Norwegian aims to improve its customers’ travel experience and stay ahead of the competition in the aviation industry.

In summary, Norwegian’s renewed partnership with Anuvu will enable the airline to offer stable and fast WiFi, enhancing the customer experience for UK-based business travellers. With the implementation of Anuvu’s technology, Norwegian aims to stay ahead of the competition and provide excellent in-flight WiFi service to its passengers.

Dave

British Airways unveils new safety video celebrating British originality

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British Airways is about to launch its latest onboard safety video, featuring airline colleagues and iconic British personalities that showcase what makes Britain unique and original.

The five-minute video, set to premiere on 1 May 2023, is designed to celebrate the timeless quirks and unique people of the UK while ensuring passengers remain safe during their travels.

The video plays on things that are synonymous with the UK, from discussing the weather to enjoying fish and chips by the sea, to show viewers things that make the nation unique.

British Airways employees from across the airline are featured in the video, showcasing their roles on the ground and in the air. British Airways engineer Carl Carpenter even makes a cameo, driving across an engineering hangar while reminding customers to unplug their devices.

The safety video also features some of the Great British public, injecting wit and showcasing Britishness. For instance, when cabin crew member Emily Mae Jackson reminds customers that life jackets should not be inflated inside the aircraft, viewers see the instruction playfully taken out of context with a real-life farmer near Dover and two fishermen on Deal beach in Kent all inflating their life jackets.

Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said:

We have all sat through safety demonstrations before, so we knew we needed to create something different that would capture attention and was totally in line with our British Original positioning. We wanted this to be a real celebration of originality and for us, it is our people who – together with where we’re from – make us unique.

That’s why it was important for us to hero so many of our amazing colleagues doing what they do each and every day for our customers and for each other. We also wanted to inject some wit and showcase Britishness, and all the quirks that put us on the map by shining a light on real life people – from fishermen and chip shop workers to friends hanging out, as well as some well known faces who help put Britain on stage.

So… seats in the take-off position and we hope you really enjoy our new safety video.

The airline’s colleagues star alongside celebrities like Ncuti Gatwa, Little Simz, Robert Peston, Kaya Scodelario, Steven Bartlett, Emma Raducanu, chef Tom Kerridge, and British Airways’ new uniform designer, Ozwald Boateng.

The safety video is part of British Airways’ efforts to champion and showcase British Originality across its customer experience, from its menus featuring the best of British cuisine to its dedicated British Original in-flight entertainment channel.

The airline’s dedication to showcasing the best of Britain is evident in its latest safety video, and business travellers are sure to appreciate the unique blend of wit, charm, and safety that British Airways has presented.

Later this year, a second version of the safety video featuring the airline’s colleagues in its new uniform will be released, giving customers even more reasons to fly with British Airways.

Dave

SWISS trials AI-powered boarding

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Swiss International Air Lines is trialling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct its passenger count during boarding on selected flights between April and June, with the aim of enhancing security and easing the workload of its cabin personnel.

The airline has announced a three-month trial of an AI-powered passenger count during the boarding process on selected flights from Zurich. The aim is to enhance security and ease the workload of the airline’s cabin personnel.

AI boarding: SWISS aims to ease workload and enhance security

During the trial, a camera will be temporarily installed in the cabin to record passengers as they embark and determine their total numbers.

The recordings will be used solely to train the AI application in the boarding process, which must be able to distinguish whether a passenger is carrying an infant in their arms and function faultlessly even in challenging lighting conditions.

The reliability of the AI will be continually analysed and improved throughout the trial.

To ensure data security and data protection, SWISS will process all the recordings in full compliance with the strict European (GDPR) and Swiss (FADP) data protection provisions and will then delete the data.

The data recorded will be used solely for passenger count purposes and no individuals will be identified from them. Additionally, only visual images will be recorded, and only in the aircraft door area. No other recordings such as audio will be performed.

During the trial, SWISS cabin crew will also conduct a parallel passenger count using the established manual procedure on the flights concerned.

Passengers on the flights will be informed of the trial before they embark.

SWISS plans to analyse the results of the trial and then decide on the further course of action as well as on a possible introduction.

The use of AI in passenger count procedures could significantly enhance security and ease the workload of cabin personnel, benefiting time-conscious UK-based business travellers.