These days, almost every team in major professional sports leagues has an official airline. These official airlines put their name on the big screen at the stadium, appear on local advertisements boasting their status as the "official airline of your team", and sponsor merchandise promotions at the team's home venue. Normally, these are airlines that operate a hub at the local airport or at a nearby major city's airport. But that is just about where the similarities end. Different airlines have very different relationships with their sports teams; some relationships are intimate and rather exclusive and sometimes airlines will have so many teams, that they can number more than 30.
The reason airlines sponsor teams is to attach their name to local fans' favorite teams. In this day and age, here in America and around the world, people are very tightly connected to their favorite team, sometimes even giving their favorite players nicknames or using the pronouns we, us, and our when referring to their favorite team. Advertisers will pay top dollar to be associated with these cultural icons, and airlines are no exception. To an airline, associating with a team means that when fans go to book a flight, they're more likely to think of the airline that has giant billboards at their favorite team's home venue.
But some airlines are a lot less passive in their approach to marketing their brand to sports fans. Just in the US, airlines like JetBlue and US Airways have created special liveries for the teams they sponsor. Internationally, airlines like Air New Zealand and Turkish Airlines have also created special liveries for sports teams; Turkish has even painted the entire roster of FC Barcelona on the side of a 777-300ER. When people see their favorite team's logo flying through the sky, they will clamor to choose that airline the next time they fly, in hopes of being able to fly that special plane.
Other airlines host contests for the team, with the prize ranging from free round-trip tickets to one of their destinations to a season-long vacation following the team to every road game; Everyone loves free things, even if one of those free things is a cramped economy class seat in a plane flying 5 hours across the country, sandwiched between the crying baby and the person who talks too much. These airlines know that by tapping into the sports market, and properly engaging in their communities, they can potentially draw hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of fans, if they form as tight a bond with the fans in the same way the fans have formed a bond with their team, a challenge some airlines have mastered, while others have yet to come close to achieving.
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Monday, June 10, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Toy Airport Set
Looking back, there have been so many things in my life that could have kickstarted a lifelong interest in aviation. For one thing, I had planes fly over my house every day, and still no interest was sparked until I was 15. My dad used to take annual business trips to Frankfurt and the whole family would go pick him up at the airport, and still no interest. I only flew for the first time when I was 8. But my favorite missed opportunity, if thats what you want to call it, was my toy airport set.
When I was about 5, I had a little toy airport set complete with a control tower, "gates", and planes. It even had little baggage trucks with the AA logo on the side. I had three little model planes, and although I don't remember the type, I do remember that there was an American, a Continental, and a Northwest jet. I would play with the set all the time, but somehow the fun never translated to the real ones. Only now, being an AvGeek, do I really wish I had it. But, of course, as with most of the toys I loved as a kid, I have no idea where it is.
I've come to realize that almost everyone has a favorite or cherished aviation related memory from when they were young. Maybe it's seeing a special plane fly overhead, or visiting an air and space museum. Maybe it's a first flight or a favorite toy. What sparked your inner AvGeek? Maybe the memorable event happened after you became an aviation enthusiast. Leave a comment below and tell your story of what fueled your interest in aviation.
When I was about 5, I had a little toy airport set complete with a control tower, "gates", and planes. It even had little baggage trucks with the AA logo on the side. I had three little model planes, and although I don't remember the type, I do remember that there was an American, a Continental, and a Northwest jet. I would play with the set all the time, but somehow the fun never translated to the real ones. Only now, being an AvGeek, do I really wish I had it. But, of course, as with most of the toys I loved as a kid, I have no idea where it is.
I've come to realize that almost everyone has a favorite or cherished aviation related memory from when they were young. Maybe it's seeing a special plane fly overhead, or visiting an air and space museum. Maybe it's a first flight or a favorite toy. What sparked your inner AvGeek? Maybe the memorable event happened after you became an aviation enthusiast. Leave a comment below and tell your story of what fueled your interest in aviation.
Monday, May 20, 2013
What's Behind a Flight Number
Everybody, both occasional travelers and seasoned frequent fliers alike, notices a flight number at one point or another. Whether they're trying to check the status of their flight or identifying an odd or special sequence of numbers, fliers encounter flight numbers all the time as part of the travel experience. But what goes into the selection of those flight numbers? While the selection is a little bit random, the selection of flight numbers is not a completely arbitrary assignment as some may think. Each airline has its own numbering system, and while some have complex conventions, many have much simpler ideas for how to give flights their numbers.
A large number of airlines follow the traditional standard of eastbound and northbound flights receiving even numbers and westbound and southbound flights receiving odd numbers. Other airlines will have an odd flight number for outbound flights from the hub airport, and the return flight have an even number. In almost all cases, airlines chose to have the flight that returns to the hub airport have the next sequential number that follows the flight number that left the hub airport. If an airport has more than one flight per day, they will often have all flights have sequential flight numbers. Airlines also have a range system in which the range of numbers a flight number can be is determined by where the flight goes or if it is operated by a codeshare partner or regional affiliate. For example, Air Canada has flight numbers 0-99 operate to Asia Pacific, 100-199 is for domestic transcontinental, 200-299 for western domestic and so on.
Airlines will also assign special flight numbers to certain flights. For example, JetBlue's flight from New York to Bogota, Colombia (via Orlando) carries flight 1783 in honor of Simón Bolívar, the leader of Colombia's independence movement. One of Southwest Airlines' flights from San Antonio to Las Vegas flies as flight 711. Air Canada flies flight 88 to Shanghai because the number 8 is considered lucky in Chinese folk culture. While JetBlue and Southwest are the primary users of this method of special flight numbers, all airlines have some sort of special flight within their flight numbers. Almost all airlines operate a flight 1, a flight they operate as their flagship flight. Many international airlines operate their flagship between their home airport and London or New York.
A large number of airlines follow the traditional standard of eastbound and northbound flights receiving even numbers and westbound and southbound flights receiving odd numbers. Other airlines will have an odd flight number for outbound flights from the hub airport, and the return flight have an even number. In almost all cases, airlines chose to have the flight that returns to the hub airport have the next sequential number that follows the flight number that left the hub airport. If an airport has more than one flight per day, they will often have all flights have sequential flight numbers. Airlines also have a range system in which the range of numbers a flight number can be is determined by where the flight goes or if it is operated by a codeshare partner or regional affiliate. For example, Air Canada has flight numbers 0-99 operate to Asia Pacific, 100-199 is for domestic transcontinental, 200-299 for western domestic and so on.
Airlines will also assign special flight numbers to certain flights. For example, JetBlue's flight from New York to Bogota, Colombia (via Orlando) carries flight 1783 in honor of Simón Bolívar, the leader of Colombia's independence movement. One of Southwest Airlines' flights from San Antonio to Las Vegas flies as flight 711. Air Canada flies flight 88 to Shanghai because the number 8 is considered lucky in Chinese folk culture. While JetBlue and Southwest are the primary users of this method of special flight numbers, all airlines have some sort of special flight within their flight numbers. Almost all airlines operate a flight 1, a flight they operate as their flagship flight. Many international airlines operate their flagship between their home airport and London or New York.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Controversial Liveries
I've noticed something interesting in my days as an AvGeek, and that is the polarizing affect that liveries have. While there are some that most agree are good or bad, most aren't so cut and dry. Some liveries can result in totally different opinions. One person may call it great, while another will describe it as terrible. There are some, however, that are some that garner so much attention and controversy that in some cases, people lost their jobs. That's where this post comes in, where I'll be looking at what the brand designers did wrong, or in some cases, what got everybody talking.
It's impossible to write a blog post on controversial liveries without including American Airlines' new livery. Unveiled on January 17, the new look features an overhaul on the eagle, a gray body and a billboard "American Airlines" across the side. But perhaps what was most heavily criticized by media and the average flyer alike was the tail. A very liberal interpretation of the American flag, the tail has gradient stripes instead of stars on a blue background along with only 11 stripes. While most realize the change was absolutely necessary, the tail is still a sore point for most of the aviation community.
Many were hoping that with the announcement made on February 14th of the merger with US Airways that incoming CEO Doug Parker would have the livery changed. However, Parker declined to give a definitive answer on the subject at the merger press conference and no announcement has been made regarding the livery since.
In 1997, British Airways unveiled its new logo along with a new idea they called Utopia. The livery featured a white body with a navy blue belly beginning at the wing level. The tail however, featured one of 30 designs inspired by various countries the airline flies to. From Hong Kong to Africa, India to Romania, the tails were pieces of art. While many liked it, many also did not. Internationally, the idea recieved an overall neutral reaction, but in the UK, where British Airways' core customer vbase lies, the reaction was strongly negative.
In Britain, the new livery met strong resistance in multiple forms. Former British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher remarked with disgust, "We fly the British flag, not these awful things". Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic capitalized on the opportunity by painting the Union Jack on the tails of their aircraft under the marketing slogan of being Britain's "flag carrier", despite British Airways still legally being the flag carrier of the UK.
British Airways CEO Bob Ayling was dismissed from his position and was replaced by Rod Eddington in 2000. While not attributed only to the Utopia idea, the artsy tails were the most public and most heavily criticized decision Ayling made while CEO. In May of 2001, Eddington announced that all aircraft in the other 29 Utopia themes would be repainted in the Union Jack theme, ending a very short-lived attempt to promote Britsh Airways' brand identity abroad. The final aircraft bearing the scheme, an A320 operated by franchise partner BMed, exited the fleet in 2006.
American Airlines #newAmerican
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| Image courtesy of American Airlines |
It's impossible to write a blog post on controversial liveries without including American Airlines' new livery. Unveiled on January 17, the new look features an overhaul on the eagle, a gray body and a billboard "American Airlines" across the side. But perhaps what was most heavily criticized by media and the average flyer alike was the tail. A very liberal interpretation of the American flag, the tail has gradient stripes instead of stars on a blue background along with only 11 stripes. While most realize the change was absolutely necessary, the tail is still a sore point for most of the aviation community.
Many were hoping that with the announcement made on February 14th of the merger with US Airways that incoming CEO Doug Parker would have the livery changed. However, Parker declined to give a definitive answer on the subject at the merger press conference and no announcement has been made regarding the livery since.
British Airways Utopia
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| Image courtesy of the public domain |
In Britain, the new livery met strong resistance in multiple forms. Former British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher remarked with disgust, "We fly the British flag, not these awful things". Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic capitalized on the opportunity by painting the Union Jack on the tails of their aircraft under the marketing slogan of being Britain's "flag carrier", despite British Airways still legally being the flag carrier of the UK.
British Airways CEO Bob Ayling was dismissed from his position and was replaced by Rod Eddington in 2000. While not attributed only to the Utopia idea, the artsy tails were the most public and most heavily criticized decision Ayling made while CEO. In May of 2001, Eddington announced that all aircraft in the other 29 Utopia themes would be repainted in the Union Jack theme, ending a very short-lived attempt to promote Britsh Airways' brand identity abroad. The final aircraft bearing the scheme, an A320 operated by franchise partner BMed, exited the fleet in 2006.
Monday, April 15, 2013
JetBlue of the Midwest
For a while now, I've had an idea for an airline in my head. Until I can think of a better name, I just call it the "JetBlue of the Midwest". There really isn't anything else to call it, because that's essentially what it is. Whenever I look at JetBlue's route map, I notice fights all across the Northeast, flights to Florida, the Caribbean, and California. But there seems to be something missing. Something big is missing, looming large, despite being flown over daily on multiple flights. The Midwest is missing, and it's noticeable. JetBlue has tried many times in the past to enter the region but they always seem to fail somehow. In fact, just recently, the airline had to pull it's twice daily Pittsburgh to New York JFK because the route was underperforming, leaving the only Midwestern destination with flights to JFK being Chicago's O'Hare.
I'm not bashing the airline at all, in fact just the opposite here. Every time I read about the founding of JetBlue, I think to myself how that's a great way to start and run an airline. Focusing on your people and culture will in turn be a great benefit to your product. I just think that by marketing itself as "New York's Hometown Airline" and being such a common name in Northeast air travel, the airline is restricting itself. Culturally and economically, cities like Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis and even Pittsburgh are more linked to Chicago than New York City. In the Midwest, life moves at a much slower pace. Northeasterners have a much more fast paced, go-go-go type of mindset and are also much more socially liberal, as opposed to Midwesterners, who will take the time to get to know someone they're talking to and are much more socially conservative. While the Midwest may not play host to as many large cities as the Northeast, it has many more otherwise important cities. Chicago is the heart of the Midwest, probably more so than New York is for the Northeast.
That's where the JetBlue of the Midwest comes in. There are many analogies to be made between the real JetBlue and this new airline. JetBlue set up its primary hub in the heart of the Northeast: New York. Comparatively, the JetBlue of the Midwest would use the heart of the Midwest as its hub. Before JetBlue came to fruition, fares from New York City to cities in Upstate New York were sky high. Similarly, fares between Chicago and other cities in the Midwest such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Minneapolis are also through the roof. JetBlue has made its living flying from the Northeast to Florida, utilizing two hubs on both ends in Boston and New York/JFK in the Northeast and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida. On the other hand, this airline would fly between the Midwest and Florida with Chicago/O'Hare and St Louis in the Midwest and Fort Myers (RSW) and Tampa in Florida.
I'm not bashing the airline at all, in fact just the opposite here. Every time I read about the founding of JetBlue, I think to myself how that's a great way to start and run an airline. Focusing on your people and culture will in turn be a great benefit to your product. I just think that by marketing itself as "New York's Hometown Airline" and being such a common name in Northeast air travel, the airline is restricting itself. Culturally and economically, cities like Detroit, Cleveland, St Louis and even Pittsburgh are more linked to Chicago than New York City. In the Midwest, life moves at a much slower pace. Northeasterners have a much more fast paced, go-go-go type of mindset and are also much more socially liberal, as opposed to Midwesterners, who will take the time to get to know someone they're talking to and are much more socially conservative. While the Midwest may not play host to as many large cities as the Northeast, it has many more otherwise important cities. Chicago is the heart of the Midwest, probably more so than New York is for the Northeast.
That's where the JetBlue of the Midwest comes in. There are many analogies to be made between the real JetBlue and this new airline. JetBlue set up its primary hub in the heart of the Northeast: New York. Comparatively, the JetBlue of the Midwest would use the heart of the Midwest as its hub. Before JetBlue came to fruition, fares from New York City to cities in Upstate New York were sky high. Similarly, fares between Chicago and other cities in the Midwest such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Minneapolis are also through the roof. JetBlue has made its living flying from the Northeast to Florida, utilizing two hubs on both ends in Boston and New York/JFK in the Northeast and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida. On the other hand, this airline would fly between the Midwest and Florida with Chicago/O'Hare and St Louis in the Midwest and Fort Myers (RSW) and Tampa in Florida.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Just Wondering
Today marks the one year anniversary of the day I became an AvGeek. On the morning of March 11th a year ago I had no interest in aviation whatsoever. Planes were just a fact of my life living under the approach path of Dulles airport's runway 1R that I had learned to ignore. I didn't care about liveries or aircraft types or airlines, until that afternoon. I just happened to look up as what I now know to be a United 777 passed overhead and wondered to myself where that flight came from. So I downloaded planefinder and a whole world opened up for me. Thousands of flights all over the world instantly at my fingertips. And so an interest that would eventually turn into a passion was born.
I should probably have introduced myself. I'm Jonathan Holt, a 16 year old AvGeek living under the final approach path of Washington Dulles' runway 1R who happens to want to start his own airline. Jet noise has been a part of my life since the day I was born, so much so that I wouldn't hear a thing if a plane passed overhead, I was so used to the noise. When I discovered planefinder, not only did it reveal a whole new world and a new interest, but also a whole new niche community, that I've now snuggled myself into nicely. Whether it be on twitter or blogs, I'm always interacting and soaking up as much information as I can. But I'm still learning.
Therefore, on the one year anniversary of the day I discovered the wonders of aviation, I will be starting a blog myself to disseminate information myself, rather than just soak up postings of others. The purpose of this blog is to not only express my opinions on whatever may be going on across the industry, but also to keep the world updated on what's going on at the international airport at the political center of the free world, Washington Dulles International.
I should probably have introduced myself. I'm Jonathan Holt, a 16 year old AvGeek living under the final approach path of Washington Dulles' runway 1R who happens to want to start his own airline. Jet noise has been a part of my life since the day I was born, so much so that I wouldn't hear a thing if a plane passed overhead, I was so used to the noise. When I discovered planefinder, not only did it reveal a whole new world and a new interest, but also a whole new niche community, that I've now snuggled myself into nicely. Whether it be on twitter or blogs, I'm always interacting and soaking up as much information as I can. But I'm still learning.
Therefore, on the one year anniversary of the day I discovered the wonders of aviation, I will be starting a blog myself to disseminate information myself, rather than just soak up postings of others. The purpose of this blog is to not only express my opinions on whatever may be going on across the industry, but also to keep the world updated on what's going on at the international airport at the political center of the free world, Washington Dulles International.
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