Over the past several years, we've steadily grown our partnerships with airline lounges around the world. Today, that network includes more than 150 lounges reaching hundreds of thousands of travelers in every corner of the globe. No matter where you are, you'll find a lounge that offers our PressReader catalog of over 7000 digital publications from more than 120 countries in 60 languages.
Why so much growth? Well, we've known for a long time that being able to access a wide range of digital newspapers and magazines is what travelers want. It's personalized content in the palm of their hands, on their own device – to enjoy before, during, and long after they reach their destination. In fact, 50% of passengers say digital access to local and international news on their device enhances their journey. And as travel resumes, heightened safety regulations are advising the removal of print newspapers and magazines in airport terminals and lounges to encourage a contactless experience. But, that doesn't have to mean less of a travel experience - by replacing print publications with digital, lounges can reopen safely and offer travelers choice like never before. No longer are lounges restricted to offering one or a handful of publications, and that’s a great thing!
Let's have a look at some of our partners to see just exactly how they're safely reopening their lounges and welcoming travelers back. Today, we'll have a look at Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges, British Airways: Comfort & Calm, and one of our newest partners, The Club Aspire Lounge featuring their Heathrow Terminal 5 COVID-19 Measures.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges
Air Canada have recently begun reopening their award-winning Maple Leaf Lounges, located in 17 airports across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Indeed, Air Canada is getting back to 'business as usual' as they welcome travelers to their reopened facilities. They've introduced new biosafety protocols (which includes electrostatic spraying as part of its significantly enhanced cleaning procedures), new touchless processes (such as the ability to order pre-packaged food directly to your seat from your phone), and as a long-time partner of PressReader, travelers have access to thousands of digital newspapers and magazines available for travelers to download, read in the lounge or long after they've reached their destination.
British Airways Lounges
British Airways has introduced several new measures in their Galleries Club and Galleries First lounges to ensure the well-being and safety of its customers and staff as they gradually reopen their lounges. The airline has begun trialing automatic contactless lounge entry screens since the middle of July onward, enabling customers to scan their boarding pass when entering the lounge to minimize contact between customers and staff, as well as access to a full catalog of digital newspapers and magazines through the PressReader app. Travelers can now also order food and bevies through a new online service, which will be accessible once in the lounge using lounge WiFi. Orders are then brought directly to your seat - how great is that?
Aspire and Club Aspire Lounges
The team at Aspire and Club Aspire Lounges has been hard at work reviewing government guidelines, working with Health and Safety professionals from within the business, and working closely with airport authorities. Travelers can expect to see a number of safety measures in lounges as they reopen, which include self-service check-in (where possible), table service and/or assisted buffet service, and an increased cleaning schedule using a Microbe Shield formula. Plus, now that Aspire and Club Aspire are PressReader's newest partners, we're really pleased their lounges will now offer their travelers access to digital newspapers and publications on the go.
Up, up, and away
As always, before you travel it's a great idea to triple-check the government guidelines with the airline you’re flying with, the airport you're transiting from or to, as well as checking the regulations in your destination country.
If you'd like to learn more about PressReader and how we're providing our aviation partners and their travelers an enhanced customer journey through digital publications - Visit us here.
