This week: Cryto in travel, urban air mobility in Jeju, trains and planes in France, SITA takes the bumps out of flying.
Crypto gaining friends in travel and hospitality
A study by crypto tax software company CoinLedger has placed Travel and Hospitality fourth highest in a list of companies offering the option to purchase through cryptocurrency.
The study compiled a list of more than 300 companies that accept cryptocurrency methods. It categorised them into sectors, to discover which one contains the most companies offering crypto as a payment method.
Retail and E-commerce take first place, with 60 companies accepting crypto payments. The sector includes clothing and accessories stores like Adidas and H&M, as well as online shopping platforms like Etsy.
Second on the list is the food and dining sector, which has 54 companies. Examples are Domino’s and Hard Rock Café, and delivery services such as Uber Eats.
Luxury Retail comes in third with 35 companies offering the service, including high fashion brands Gucci and Ralph Lauren, and luxury watches retailer Hublot.
Thirty-one Travel & Hospitality companies accept crypto payments. These range from commercial airlines such as Norwegian Air and Vueling to private jet hire like Fast Private Jet, LunaJets and PrivateFly. Cruise companies Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises are also on the list, as are trip-organising help sites like GetYourGuide.
The top five closes with Internet and online Services companies, as 28 accept crypto as payment. These companies include Google Play and Spotify, and several VPN services.
David Kemmerer, co-Founder and CEO of CoinLedger said the increasing number of companies accepting cryptocurrency payments reflects the growing acceptance and adoption of digital currencies in the mainstream economy.
“From major retailers to small businesses, the diversification of sectors embracing cryptocurrencies demonstrates the versatility and potential of blockchain technology. As this trend continues, it’s likely to contribute to the broader acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate form of payment, paving the way for a more decentralised and accessible financial landscape.”
Jeju Air eyes vertical take-off
Eve Air Mobility and South Korea’s low-cost airline Jeju Air have released a white paper outlining the concept for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flights on Jeju Island.
The white paper examines in detail, the operational and commercial business case of establishing UAM services on the island.
South Korea is one of the first countries to begin laying the groundwork for urban air mobility.
“We are taking a very measured and thoughtful approach to understand the needs, opportunities and challenges of each region,” said Augustine Tai, APAC Business Development Lead for Eve Air Mobility.
“This latest effort will provide a suitable reference for all stakeholders keen on UAM in South Korea.”
Air+Rail on track in France
French railway company SNCF and Air France have added eight connections to their “Train + Air” routes to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, bringing the total number to 41. This service allows customers to combine train and air travel in the same reservation.
With the “Train + Air” service, customers can make a single reservation for their whole journey and are assured a seat on the next available flight or TGV train at no additional cost if their original flight or train is delayed.
Since 2022, the travel process has been digitised, allowing customers to check in online for their entire journey, encompassing both air and train travel.
Air France customers in the La Première or Business cabin also enjoy first-class travel on SNCF trains.
Swiss takes the turbulence out of flying
Swiss International Air Lines’ (SWISS) has deployed SITA eWAS across its fleet to help pilots better plan and avoid severe weather.
SITA eWAS aggregates multiple weather sources for greater accuracy and reliability in weather forecasts and enhances onboard weather radar which cannot detect clear-air turbulence.
SITA’s eWAS solution contains a high-resolution turbulence forecast from Germany’s meteorological service, and displays real-time turbulence measurements from other aircraft worldwide, similar to road traffic congestion reporting for street maps.
