JetBlue Airways has bagged the laurels for best US domestic IFE in the annual Zagat airline survey. And Qatar Airways has been similarly recognised in Dubai’s Aviation Business awards.
New York-based low-fare operator JetBlue was also hailed as the best large domestic airline when it comes to economy-class seating, and as the most eco-friendly carrier in the USA.
Known as the “burgundy bible,” Zagat is a leading source of information about where to eat, drink and stay worldwide. It rates and reviews airlines, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, films, music and a range of other entertainment categories in over 100 countries.
The latest airline survey was based on the experiences of 9,950 frequent fliers and travel professionals who rated 85 airlines and 27 US domestic airports. Each carrier was rated for its premium and economy services, domestic and international. The average surveyor took 16.3 flights in the past year, yielding a total database of 162,000 trips.
JetBlue pioneered in-seat live television through its LiveTV subsidiary and is now doing the same with free inflight messaging and email, also via LiveTV.
Aviation Business magazine acclaimed Qatar Airways’ complete onboard experience, including the inflight entertainment. The Doha-based carrier offers AVOD in all classes, a first-class lounge on its Airbus A340s and fully flat beds on its Boeing 777s. Qatar Airways was the first international carrier to offer live television, installing the Rockwell Collins Tailwind system on its A330s, A340s and 777 to deliver the service on selected routes.
Qatar Airways today announced the introduction of its mobile phone-based boarding pass service. Delivering a barcoded boarding pass wirelessly to the passenger’s phone, mobi-pass was developed Mobiqa, an Edinburgh-based provider of mobile barcode solutions. The service was launched at Qatar Airways’ Doha International hub and will be introduced at other destinations in the near future.
The passenger’s travel details are captured in an industry-standard barcode that is then sent to the passenger’s mobile as an MMS, email or WAP Push/Link message. Benefits for users include the ability to receive the pass on the move and go directly to security, bypassing check-in queues. At the gate the phone is scanned to give the passenger access to the aircraft.
The DoD has changed its structures and is been increasing efforts to facilitate access to loans by companies interested in working with artificial intelligence, advanced materials and semiconductors, biotechnology and quantum science.
India has approved millions of dollars in new military purchases, most of which will go to public sector companies.
The main obstacles to overcoming risks in the region are a lack of a strong cybersecurity culture and inadequate funds to invest in this domain given a widespread Chinese presence in the region.
MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.
Despite the additional funding promised this week, the UK armed forces still look set to face cutbacks, and maintaining international commitments to AUKUS and GCAP may limit the options for other programmes.
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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