Things we talk about in this episode:

What is the New Distribution Capability (NDC) pushed by IATA

Why NDC matters for airlines and their distribution channels

How airlines currently distribute through Global Distribution Systems (GDS)

Why adoption of the NDC standard has wide regional variances

What Airgateway does in the field of NDC

Why full service carriers are the primary users of NDC and it is less relevant for low cost airlines

In this podcast we talk about the research he has conducted in the field of conversion optimization for airlines as well as some underlying trends, such as the effort some airlines are doing to prop up their non-ticket business with different sorts of digital offerings and the always constant threat of disruption that airlines face from major digital platforms.

If you are into digital marketing and commercial aviation, block some time and get ready to listen to this episode of the podcast!

Between 1942 and 1945, at the height of WW2, a proper air highway was established between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Thousands of aircraft, coming out of America’s factories and destined for the Soviets’ European front made an arduous journey of thousands of miles over some of the most remote places on Earth. It was known as the ALSIB (Alaska-Siberia) route.

Pere Suau-Sánchez has a long track record of academic and operational research in the commercial aviation industry, he’s a Senior Lecturer in Air Transport Management, Cranfield University (UK) and an Associate Professor in Business and Economics, Open University of Catalonia (Spain), he also acts as an independent advisor to aviation industry companies and stakeholders and is a regular media host talking about aviation and transportation.

I called Pere Suau-Sánchez, to learn more about his research of different scenarios that the aviation industry may be facing post-pandemic, which he has outlined in a recent paper published in the Journal of Transport Geography “An early assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on air transport: Just another crisis or the end of aviation as we know it?”

An unprecedented situation such as Covid-19 required that we gathered, here on the podcast, an unprecedented line-up of expert professionals to discuss about its consequences for the airline industry, and most particularly in everything that concerns the communication and PR side of it.

So, rather than a one-to-one interview, this episode is a bit unusual in that we have a panel discussion to talk about the hottest topics in airline communications and PR in these very convoluted times.

In this episode we talk with Jay about the process through which he came up with some of the most original cabin designs in the executive jet industry, about how his previous experience in the automotive industry has influenced his work and also about new ideas Embraer is pushing, such as a personal air mobility vehicle concept and a high end office chair.

If you are interested in aviation, design and, more generally, in beautiful, original things, go get your ear plugs and a calm, quiet place to listen, because you certainly will enjoy this episode!

Helicopters is one area of the aviation industry that, I must admit, I know less about than I would like to. This is why I invited one of the persons out there that knows most about them to speak on this episode of the podcast.

Charlotte Pedersen manages one of the top helicopter operators in the VIP segment. That is helicopters that cater to the rich and famous of the world. As a matter of fact, most of these helicopters may complement a private jet and a yacht as part of ultra high network individual’s mobility package.

Charlotte has also a long career in the helicopter world and, more generally, in aviation, both in the private sector, where she’s served at several companies and boards as well as in the public sector. In fact, she started with a stint at the Royal Danish Air Force flying the mighty Sea King and flying the Queen of Denmark on occasion!

With Charlotte we talked about the business of operating luxury helicopters all over the world, about new trends in rotor wing aircraft and, of course, about how Covid-19 has impacted the helicopter industry.

One of the great things about aviation is that, as an industry, it attracts a fair number of entrepreneurs and dynamic personalities.

This is the case of our guest today. Carl Legein is a serial aviation entrepreneur. He is the founder of Belgium-based The Aviation Factory, which manages a portfolio of aviation businesses.

Vizion Air, for example, is a virtual carrier that operates ad-hoc services for specific collectives, like, for example, the European Parliament. But The Aviation Factory stable of brands include also an executive aviation booking marketplace, companies that provide services to passengers on the ground, specialized charter providers, logistics operators and, last but not least, a company offering flights in WW2-era aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang, “the Cadillac of the Skies”!

Ladies and Gentlement, take your seats, because we are going to speak today about aviation entrepreneurship with Carl Legein!

Today’s guest, Magadalena Osowska works a senior cabin crew for one of the major Gulf carriers. She is constantly shuttling between different continents and time zones. She has even flown on some repatriation flights during this exceptional pandemic period. We have talked about this, of course, in the hope of getting a glimpse of what travel looks like in these exceptional times.

But today’s episode is, more generally, about cabin crew life, both from a professional - ever wondered how you can start a career as cabin crew and what the career path looks like? - and practical perspective - how do you organize your life when you are constantly flying long-haul?