6 | UPDATES


A New Era of Entertainment for Long-Haul Travellers


BRITISH Airways is embracing the digital age with an exciting new trial that could transform how passengers experience in-flight


Own Device’ (BYOD) system will allow passengers on selected long-haul flights to stream their favourite shows and movies directly to their phones,


tablets,


without giving up the familiar seat-back screens.


The trial will initially run on


BA’s Airbus A380s, Boeing 787- 9s, and select 777-200 aircraft departing from London Heathrow, offering travellers a more flexible, personalised experience at 30,000 feet.


Launching later this month, the airline’s


entertainment. ‘Bring Your


www.nitravelnews.com


complementary to existing seat- back screens, not a


approach allows passengers to choose the setup


that


best suits their needs,


whether


they prefer a large built-in display or the convenience


of


their own tech. The move reflects broader


a shift or laptops, This innovative move by


British Airways is being welcomed by many, particularly those who’ve previously faced technical glitches with traditional seat-back screens. Instead of relying solely on onboard hardware, passengers


Fearless Flyer Programme Set to Return To Belfast in 2026


EASYJET has announced the return of its


Fearless Flyer programme to help aerophobes overcome their fear, including a Belfast date! Nine courses will run over the next four months,


with experience flights taking place across the UK including London Gatwick, London Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast, as well as Jersey Airport for the first time, so customers have the choice of a location convenient to them. The Fearless Flyer programme will return to Belfast on the 25th January 2026. Since 2012, the programme has helped over 14,000 individuals, with a success rate of more than 95%. EasyJet’s Fearless Flyer course is divided into three main parts: •


A virtual ground course, where an easyJet


captain explains the unfamiliar sounds and sensations customers feel onboard an aircraft during take off, landing and during times of turbulence. In addition, Lawrence Leyton, a leading expert in the psychology of fear, teaches a unique set of mind techniques to help manage nerves. •


will now be able to tap into the same entertainment library from the comfort of their own device, making the experience smoother and more in tune with modern travel habits. Importantly,


BA has confirmed this new system is carriers,


in the aviation industry , where several international including Etihad,


Qantas, and American Airlines, have already begun removing seat-back screens on short- haul routes to save weight and costs. However, British Airways’ balanced approach ensures


September/October 2025


at least for now. This


replacement, hybrid


passengers still have the freedom to choose how they want to stay entertained. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic is soaring ahead with its own bold step in in-flight technology. The airline has announced it will become the first UK carrier to offer free, unlimited streaming-quality Wi-Fi across its entire fleet, thanks to cutting-edge Starlink satellite technology from SpaceX. Set to roll out across Virgin’s Boeing 787s,


Airbus A350s,


and A330neos starting in 2026,


seamless, connectivity


the service promises global


from take-off to landing. This game-changing feature will be available at no cost for members of Virgin’s Flying Club and marks a significant leap forward in onboard experience. In parallel, Virgin Atlantic


is modernising its fleet with $17 billion invested in 45 next- generation aircraft by 2028, boasting fuel efficiency and an average age of under seven years.


Etihad Guest Launches Loyalty Partnership with Revolut


ETIHAD Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has partnered with Revolut, to offer worldwide loyalty members more ways to earn Etihad Guest Miles internationally. Millions of Revolut customers worldwide can transfer their RevPoints earned through everyday


Aer Lingus Adds Direct Winter Route to Northern Light Hotspot!


AER Lingus has, once again, launched a brand new route flying from Dublin Airport.


This comes after the Irish carrier added


Turin to its flight schedule from Dublin during the week. Aer Lingus will add a direct route from Dublin to Tromsø, Norway for its winter schedule. Starting from 3rd December 2025, the route will depart twice weekly onboard Airbus A320.


New Affordable Private Jet Service to A pre-flight one-hour ‘Meet the Team’


online Zoom session, where participants will be walked through the airport experience and what to expect. There will also be a Q&A session with the Fearless Flyer Team including an easyJet pilot, Lawrence Leyton and Course Director Mark Wein, who shares his tips and advice on how he overcame his own fear of flying many years ago. •


And lastly, a special one-hour experience


flight from the course airport, where customers put their new skills to the test whilst listening to a live commentary of the flight from the Fearless Flyer team. Fiona Deans, who attended easyJet’s 200th Fearless Flyer course on 10 May 2025 at London Gatwick Airport, said: “I’m so glad I finally had the courage to book onto the fearless flying course. I hadn’t flown for 18 years until this morning. The crew and easyJet staff are all very welcoming, reassuring and spent time with everyone on the flight to make sure we were all ok. They meet you at check in and stay with you until after the flight. Having time sitting on the plane before and afterwards was really good to have the time to talk to the pilots and crew. It was a great experience and I wish I’d done it years ago!”


be Offered from UK this Summer! EVER dreamed of flying private? How about making that dream a reality? That’s right, customers departing


the UK may be able to avail of ‘affordable’ private jet prices, thanks for Flytta. This new luxury air travel provider has announced it will launch a brand-new by-the-seat service, which will transport passengers from private terminals in both London and Nice.


Hoping to depart twice weekly, the Pilates Pc-24 twin jet can hold up to 8 passengers (along with their dogs!) with passengers touching down in Nice in just under 2 hours.


Prices for the private service starts at £2,950 one way,


clients have with


Flytta describing the experience as ‘seamless’ from curb to cabin. “Our


charter costs rise at least 400 percent seen private


since 2020,” says Founder Adam McVicar “We’ve worked closely with them


to design a service that fits around their needs, using an aircraft and format they already trust. London and Nice are year round destinations and providing the fastest way to get between the two is just the beginning for us. We’re thrilled by the early response.”


Ryanair Increase Under-Seat Bag Size Across Route Network


IN a recent move, Ryanair has confirmed that it has completed the rollout of its increased carry-on bag sizers across 235 airports. From 4th September, passengers travelling


on Ryanair can now bring a bigger under- seat bag on board, with the size increasing to 40 x 30 x 20 cm. This allowance is now 33% bigger than the EU standard for free carry-on bags, which currently stands at 40 x 30 x 15 cm. Ryanair allows each passenger to bring one free carry-on bag on board, however


these bags must be capable of fitting under each passenger’s seat. In a statement Dara Brady, Ryanair’s CMO highlighted, “Our bag sizers at all airports have now been “resized” to accommodate this bigger, free carry-on bag.” Brady continued, “We hope our customers will enjoy these bigger, free carry-on bag sizes, but any passenger who fails to comply with these new generous limits, will be required to pay the checked in bag fee at the boarding gate.”


spending to Etihad Guest Miles via the Revolut mobile app. RevPoints can be transferred into Etihad Guest Miles at a one-for-one ratio, with no minimum transfer amount, making rewards more accessible and allowing members to unlock Etihad Guest benefits with the tap of a button. Etihad Guest members can use RevPoints


to boost their Etihad Guest Miles balance and redeem their miles on flights to more than 100 spectacular destinations within Etihad’s expanding global network, upgrades, worldwide hotel stays and holidays, and a huge range of items from the Etihad Guest Reward Shop. With 27 new destinations joining the Etihad network this year, such as Phnom Penh, Sumatra and Hong Kong, members can utilise their spending to earn a ticket to see the world.


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