1.
Air India is undergoing an overhaul under Tata Group ownership. Hundreds of new aircraft are on order, including gleaming A350s with improved cabins on New Delhi to New York and Heathrow routes. Up next? The refurbishing of older long-haul aircraft. 

2.
The new PDX Airport in Portland, Oregon, was unveiled in August. It might now be the best airport in the US thanks to its top-notch shops, restaurants and bars. The trees and greenery throughout the departure hall are a nice addition. 

3.
LAX’s Delta One lounge has been opened and it looks more like something we might expect to see in Asia or the Gulf. Its new jfk lounge is similarly outstanding. We hope that US airlines continue to improve their premium ground services, which make a difference at busy airports such as lax.

4.
Japan Airlines’ new A350-1000 is spreading its wings to more long-haul destinations, with updated cabins and impressive Business and First Class offerings. It runs between Tokyo and London, and Dallas and New York, with more destinations to come soon. 

5.
United Airlines is distinguishing itself with some creative and downright bold route planning. The latest round of programming includes service from New York to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. UA is also launching routes within Asia, bucking the trend of US airlines farming out this kind of flying to partners. 

6.
Etihad Airways is back to growth mode after years of cutbacks. It is rolling out new Business Class cabins across almost the entire fleet, reactivating a380s and relaunching 30 routes over the coming months. Combine this with the newly opened Abu Dhabi terminal – a huge improvement over the old – and Etihad looks increasingly like a real competitor to other Gulf carriers, not just a niche neighbour. 

7.
Cathay Pacific has new Aria Business Class suites and will soon debut its Halo Cabin in First Class. It’s nice to see CX returning to prominence and investing in its product once again. 

8.
Qatar Airways looks set to take a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia as the former fights a losing battle with the Australian government to fly additional services in the country. There’s speculation that QR could use the Virgin tie-up to get around restrictions by leasing its aircraft to the carrier. 

9.
Air France is poised to provide free Starlink wifi, joining a small but growing list of airlines to do so. But more eyes might be on AF’s revamped La Première First Class, which will hopefully enter service in 2025. 

10.
Scandinavian Airlines is relaunching a European Business Class service with a blocked middle seat. The move came just days after the carrier left Star Alliance to join Skyteam. Until now, the airline has only had a premium “Plus” service and filled every seat, including middles.

Archana Dharni was recently appointed events director for Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), an aviation fair that takes place in Hamburg every spring.

How are people’s travel habits changing?
People are taking longer flights and airlines are doing a lot to accommodate for this. How do carriers put passenger safety first? And, while safety is key, how do they ensure that travellers are comfortable? Passenger expectations have evolved significantly over the years. It’s not just about getting from A to B. Our day-to-day comforts now need to be replicated in the cabin. Airlines are analysing different data points to figure out how they can continue to personalise their offering.

Personalisation is key, then?
We have been discussing the topic of personalisation for years. What do passengers want? Once you have the answer, you need to create a cabin that facilitates their needs. This can be achieved through ambient lighting, meals, drinks, the choice of amenities and in-flight entertainment. We’re not quite at a level of total individual personalisation yet  but we know that the long-term goal is to get to that point. There are already a lot of ways in which we can increase the number of options for passengers.

Are passengers becoming more demanding?
For short-haul flyers, it’s still about getting from A to B. But with long-haul passengers, especially with what they’re paying for flights now, there’s a level of expectation about what they are getting in that space.

You have talked a lot about comfort. Is it becoming more important to airlines?
Air New Zealand has introduced beds to its economy class. Is this likely to happen elsewhere straight away? No, probably not. But different options to boost passenger comfort are being explored. Airlines are beginning to provide travellers with alternative choices that cater more closely to their needs and increase their level of comfort.
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