Podcast 062: Will mass shootings impact travel to the United States?

#PaxEx Podcast

Welcome to episode 062 of the #PaxEx Podcast, which tracks how the airline passenger experience is evolving in a mobile, social, vocal world.

In this episode – available on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts – co-hosts Max Flight and Mary Kirby study the passenger pleasing attributes of Delta’s new Airbus A220-100 (formerly known as the Bombardier CSeries CS100), and discuss some of the potential drivers behind for the carrier’s passenger comfort-focused choices. Delta has since clarified that the pitch in first class is 37”, not 36” and Main Cabin pitch is up to 32”, versus 30-31”.

Mary also shares some of the intrigue around Delta’s launch of a new wireless seatback IFE system called Gogo Vision Touch, and why journalists are looking forward to trying out the solution when the Delta A220 enters commercial service.

Next, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s recommendations for implementing a Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS) have gone into effect as of 8 November. These recommendations were agreed in the months after the tragic disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 in March 2014. The first steps in implementing the GADSS involve adopting what’s called “Normal Aircraft Tracking” – in other words, solutions that establish an aircraft’s position information at least every 15 minutes. Max and Mary discuss the latest flight tracking offerings, and why Aireon – the joint venture between Iridium and air navigation service providers – appears particularly well positioned in the space.

Last, but certainly not least, the US has been beset with a scourge of horrific mass shootings. Travel to the US has largely not been affected. Mary and Max mull whether the kind of violence and instability we’re seeing in the US will ultimately have an impact on travel to the country.