F U TURE TRE NDS
This looks to be the year that high-tech smart luggage with built-in batteries is banned from being checked in
that Airbnb will launch a “Lux” portal aggregating high-end private residences this year, allowing it to compete with One Fine Stay (now part of Accorhotels).
52
but on long-haul A340 services it’s free. The menu lists items such as Sicilian lemonade, smoothies, craft beer, tapas and organic quinoa salad. Unlike typical budget airlines, intercontinental services also have premium economy and business class cabins with fully flat beds. At the time of writing, there were one-way fares available from Paris to Barcelona, Oslo and Rome from €49 (US$60), and Istanbul from €99 (US$122, starting in March), Tehran and Cairo from €149 (US$184), and Cape Town from €279 (US$344) from April.
FAREWELL TO JUMBOS The unmistakable B747, with its humped upper deck, first took to the skies in 1969 – and almost 50 years later, it’s finally reaching the end of its life. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing says that it sees “no significant demand” for the jumbo jet anymore, and has dropped the plane from its 20-year forecast. Instead, it predicts airlines will be choosing Boeing’s more efficient B787s and B777Xs for long-haul flights. In 2017, both Delta and United retired the last of their B747s, meaning no US airline flies the jumbo any longer. There are still around 500 in service globally, but a recent delivery of a B747-8 to Korean Air may prove the last to be built. In contrast, a new entry to fleets around
the world is the smaller, single-aisle B737 MAX. It has already become the fastest- selling plane in Boeing’s history, with more than 4,000 orders from 92 carriers.
ABOVE: Natural disasters are ever more common AP RIL 2 0 18
The aircraſt comes with Boeing’s new Sky Interior, “modern sculpted walls and window reveals”, LED lighting and larger overhead bins for luggage. It comes in four variants – the MAX 7, 8 , 9 and 10 – installed with 172 to 230 seats. Last year, Norwegian, Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, Silk Air and Westjet all received their first B737 MAXs. In November 2017, it was announced that Flydubai had placed a monster US$27 billion order for 225 of the planes. This is part of a wider trend for airlines
buying smaller aircraft, instead of larger planes with far greater operating costs. Even though fuel is currently cheap, carriers such as Qantas and Air France have cancelled orders for the A380 superjumbo.
AIRBNB HOTELS Given Airbnb’s ambitions to become a one- stop shop for travel – from home rental to experiences and possibly even flights – it makes sense that the company is partnering with property developers to build its own branded accommodation. In Florida, Airbnb is working with Newgard Property Group to open a 300-unit apartment tower for early 2018 (called Niido Powered by Airbnb) in Kissimee, near Orlando. Tenants will be able to rent apartments
on Airbnb for up to 180 days a year, and there will be hotel-style support in the form of cleaning and linen services, keyless entry systems, in-room safes and concierges. According to the Financial Times, Airbnb plans to unveil another five such projects over the next two years. There are also rumours
SMART LUGGAGE BAN Business travellers have endured liquid and laptop bans in recent years, but 2018 looks to be the year that high-tech smart luggage with built-in batteries is embargoed. In December, American Airlines announced that suitcases containing lithium-ion batteries pose a fire risk when they are placed in the cargo hold of an aircraft. As a consequence, from January 15
2018, all smart suitcases were banned from being checked in unless the power pack is removed. Other airlines, such as Delta and Alaska, have issued similar rules and EU carriers may follow suit, while Cathay Dragon and Cathay Pacific banned smart suitcases from January. (Smart luggage will continue to be allowed in the cabin – providing the batteries can be removed.) Brands that manufacture this sort of luggage, which can charge devices, be tracked and even move on its own in some cases, include Away, Barracuda, Bluesmart, Horizn Studios and Modobag.
AIRPORT GYMS Instead of sitting in the airport lounge eating platefuls of free food and drinking wine, many of us would feel better at the end of our journey if we’d done a workout instead. Last autumn, Lennart Meri Tallinn airport in Estonia became the first in Europe to install a pop-up gym within its terminal near gate 6 (complete with runway views). Operated by My Fitness, the light, expansive gym has high ceilings, with Technogym weight machines, an elliptical trainer, a rowing machine, exercise bike, treadmill and staircase trainer. The only problem is there are no showers. Roam Fitness is also taking gyms for jet-
setters seriously, having opened its first in Baltimore airport last year. The 109 sqm facility has cardio equipment, free weights,
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
