UAE, 16 November 2011: State of the art technology is set to enhance customer service levels for British Airways' travellers with the introduction of iPads to senior cabin crew worldwide on all routes including the Middle East. This was confirmed on the sidelines of the Dubai Air Show 2011 by a senior airline executive.

The move comes after a highly successful trial, involving 100 senior crew members, who are responsible for delivering service to customers onboard the airline's 226 aircraft.

Frank van der Post, British Airways' managing director, brands and customer experience, who is on a visit to two key Middle East markets - Saudi Arabia and the UAE - said: "The possibilities for future development of the iPad are endless, and this is only the beginning. Once the roll-out has been completed, our crew worldwide, including the Middle East, will be able to offer a premium and more thoughtful onboard service to customers in every cabin."

Specially developed software and apps enable cabin crew to tap into data giving them customer preferences and their previous travel arrangements, allowing them to offer a uniquely personalised service.

The three month-long trial has been judged such a fly away success that British Airways has given the go-ahead for the specially equipped iPad 2 to be issued to 2,000 senior cabin crew across the entire British Airways long and shorthaul fleet.

Paolo DeRenzis, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, Middle East said: "The Middle East is a fast-growing market for new technology. Undoubtedly, travellers from this region will be thrilled by the fact that our extremely efficient crew will now be better equipped with an iPad and the corresponding applications that can make their journey more enjoyable and convenient. The iPads provide real-time insight into our customers' preferences across a whole range of areas, from special meal requests to onward travel plans enabling us to deliver a truly bespoke service."

The iPad discreetly replaces long cumbersome scrolls of paper, which are normally handed to cabin crew, listing up to 337 customers, just before the doors close and the aircraft departs.

Instead, the iPad, equipped with British Airways-developed apps, is simply refreshed just before departure using 3G technology, to provide cabin crew with an up-to-the-minute passenger and preference list. This means any customer service issues which arise in the air, can immediately be followed up by ground-based colleagues as soon as the aircraft lands and the iPad reconnects to the network.

The iPad also shows cabin crew where each customer is seated, who they are travelling with, their Executive Club status and any special meal requests. In addition, it also gives them a vast library of information at their fingertips including timetables, safety manuals and customer service updates.

Destination guides to are also being loaded on to the iPads so cabin crew can provide customers with the latest information about key cities served by British Airways.

Van der Post also explained how over the next five years British Airways will be investing more than £5bn in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges,and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

-Ends-

About British Airways:
British Airways has a worldwide route network that covers more than 150 destinations in 75 countries.

The airline is one of the world's largest international airlines carrying approximately 36 million passengers around the world every year.

Next year (2012) will mark our 80th anniversary of flying to the Middle East.

British Airways operates 68 weekly flights from eight GCC markets to London Heathrow.

British Airways' transatlantic joint business with American Airlines and Iberia offers customers more destinations, better schedules and greater access to cheaper fares.

The airline is investing in new aircraft, new cabins, new technology and new routes.

British Airways' operate from Terminal 5, it's exclusive new home at London Heathrow.  This terminal is capable of handling 30 million customers a year and is the size of 50 football pitches.

More than 90% of British Airways flights operate through Terminal 5 that handles over 500 flights a day.

British Airways was the first commercial airline to introduce a fully flat bed in First class in 1996. The airline then went on to pioneer fully flat beds in business class (Club World) in 2000.

We are refurbishing our Boeing 777-200 fleet to have all-new cabins just like the new 777-300Ers

For further information on British Airways, please visit ba.com.

For media enquiries, please contact the British Airways press office:
Melissa Green
T: +97156 690 5133
Email: melissa.g@actionprgroup.com

© Press Release 2011