Recommend March 2018 - 10

Traveltalk "
Michelle Marie Arean

10 march 2018

We are proud of our presence
in destinations that other
airlines have not yet reached.
Specifically, in the U.S. market
business relations as well as
cultural and leisure travel
between the U.S. and Brazil
are top priorities for LATAM.
-- Pablo Chiozza,

"

This month's Travel Talk column focuses
on air travel, with airlines working towards
diversifying their product, using artificial
intelligence [AI] to implement trends, and
increasing their airlift schedules.
"Every traveler has unique needs,
preferences and expectations, so it is
important to continually diversify the
product offering," says Pablo Chiozza, senior
v.p. of the U.S.A., Canada, the Caribbean
and Asia for LATAM Airlines Group. "This
means not only digging into what travelers
expect, but also what surprises them by truly
adding value to the details of their journeys."
At The New York Times Travel Show, Cenk
Ocal, Turkish Airlines' general manager,
said, "The defining trend that will set brands
apart in 2018 and beyond will be intangible:
which operators can deploy innovation while
also striking a balance between profitability
and empathy, without forgetting their
customer is more than a number."
Chiozza notes, too, that, "During the
past few years, a clear trend has emerged
in new carriers entering the market. As
industry offerings continue to increase, so
does competition and demand for air travel.
Additionally, thanks to advancements in
technology, a growing number of travel
options are readily available to consumers.
Without a doubt, the massification of air
travel is underway. As travelers look for
unique experiences with simplified bookings,

Senior Vice President, U.S.,
Canada, the Caribbean and Asia,
LATAM Airlines Group
LATAM will continue to invest in and
explore new technologies that further solidify
our market positioning as Latin America's
leading airline group."
Air Canada, too, is "putting emphasis on
technology, including artificial intelligence,
to use data to better anticipate the products
our customers will want and attend to their
needs, delivered through enhanced mobile
and online channels so our customers
can connect better with us," says Peter
Fitzpatrick, Air Canada's senior manager for
media relations, Central Canada.
Late last year, Air Canada began a multiyear program to renew its North American
narrow-body fleet with Boeing 737 Max
aircraft, and it's also moving to complete the
renewal of its wide body fleet with 787s.
"The narrow body fleet renewal is a major
investment that customers will notice the

most, with 18 of a planned 61 of the new jets
in service by the end of the year.
"Another area where we expect
developments is in improving the airport
experience." In fact, late last year a new
Signature Suite luxury lounge opened its doors
at the airline's Toronto Pearson global hub.
Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, has unveiled
the first of four new Airbus A330-200
aircraft with catchy names to join its fleet,
including The Daydream Believer, which
begins service this month; Scarlett O'Hara
and Honky Tonk Woman, which will join
the fleet in the upcoming weeks; and
Strawberry Fields, joining in spring 2018.
The four new aircraft will initially operate
from Manchester to New York, Boston,
San Francisco, and Barbados. The planes'
Upper Class Cabins, featuring 19 Upper Class
Seats, introduce three new seat styles for the
airline-the Love Suite, the Freedom Solo
Suite, and the Corner Solo Suite-all offering
direct aisle access.
But it's not just up in the air where airlines
are upping the ante. Qatar Airways, for
example, is now offering a selection of prebookable city and desert tours for passengers
transiting through Qatar. The Discover Qatar
Transit Tours allow passengers with a transit
time at Hamad International Airport of
five to 12 hours to choose from a range of
activities during their stopover.
Or, those who need to freshen up while
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2018
