Airlines

Prawns Are Out And Chicken Is In To Help Cut Airline Meal Costs

In order to save costs while the aviation sector recovers from the Covid pandemic, one of the largest airline caterers in the world is replacing prawns on menus more often with chicken.

According to Singapore’s SATS Ltd., which offers a variety of third-party services to airlines, including catering, prawns that were once offered on some flights are frequently being replaced by chicken since the meat is less expensive.

Air India introduces new menu in domestic flights with trendy foods.(Opens in a new browser tab)

SATS President and Chief Executive Officer Kerry Mok responded to an analyst question during a webcast on the company’s fiscal third-quarter results this week by saying that sometimes airlines “decide to reduce the protein amount just to maintain the price, or they look to substitute protein in terms of the meals.”We’ll switch to chicken if the prawns are too pricey, Mok added.

From S$5.1 million a year earlier, SATS reported that their quarterly profits had decreased to S$0.5 million ($375,000). The next day, its shares dropped as much as 8% before dropping 4.7% at the close, marking their biggest drop in three months. In spite of this, the outcomes were an improvement over the company’s S$9.9 million loss in the prior quarter.

SATS increased by 25% from the prior year to serve 49.1 million meals in the first nine months of fiscal 2023. The global aviation industry is in the process of rebuilding, working quickly to add employees and capacity in order to handle a rise in travel. The rebound has been uneven as nations have reopened at various times; China, one of the world’s largest air travel markets, has only recently lifted its strict Covid limits.

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Airlines

Virgin Atlantic Introduces Sign Language Crew Booking for Inclusive Flights

Virgin Atlantic has set a new standard for inclusivity in air travel by becoming the first UK airline to offer British Sign Language (BSL)-trained crew members on its flights.

As part of its commitment to ensuring every customer has a positive and accessible travel experience, Virgin Atlantic teamed up with deaf Gladiators star Jodie Ounsley and deaf twin content creators Hermon and Heroda Berhane. Together, they helped the airline better understand the needs of its deaf and hard of hearing passengers.

Air India to Roll Out New Guidelines for Cabin Crew

The airline tested its BSL services on a flight from London Heathrow to Washington, with the experience captured in a special film to mark International Week of Deaf People. The BSL-trained crew greeted passengers with Virgin Atlantic’s signature warm welcome, assisted with in-flight navigation, alerted passengers to important announcements, and provided accessible in-flight entertainment options.

Virgin Atlantic’s efforts don’t stop there. The airline has committed to increasing subtitled in-flight entertainment options, enhancing clarity for special assistance services on its website, and introducing Sign Live—an on-demand BSL interpreter service for customer support teams. These new initiatives build on Virgin Atlantic’s ongoing work with Remark!, a leading deaf-led organization that provides BSL training for the airline’s crew.

Qatar Airways Launches new Flights From Doha To Toronto

With a growing number of BSL-trained crew members available on all flights, Virgin Atlantic is taking significant steps to make air travel more inclusive. And also recently it has hire the virgin atlantic down syndrome girl for work. This initiative is part of a larger campaign to promote deaf awareness and improve the flying experience for all passengers with hearing loss. Passengers can now request a BSL-trained crew member when booking their flights through the airline’s website, ensuring they have the support they need throughout their journey.

Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond flights, with partnerships like the one with Channel 4, where BSL-trained crew members appeared in sign language interpreter segments. The airline also proudly supported the England Deaf Rugby team during their tour of South Africa.

By prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity, Virgin Atlantic is leading the way for other airlines, ensuring that every passenger feels confident, supported, and welcomed when flying.