Tears for SkyMall
Share
The airline business has never been one for the faint of heart. The economics of passenger travel constantly evolve, and products, services and airlines themselves come and go – just ask APEX Experience friend and occasional contributor, Brett Snyder, aka The Cranky Flyer.
Still, it’s hard not to get melancholy about SkyMall‘s filing for bankruptcy today. While certainly written with tongue planted firmly in cheek, my recent piece in APEX Experience‘s Architecture Issue did remind me just how omnipresent SkyMall was during all those miles I logged above the skies of the US.
And there are some serious business considerations that led to this, as noted in the filing, the most obvious of which is the ability of today’s passenger to access online shopping while onboard. But for me, SkyMall‘s impending departure from the seat pocket is an even greater reminder of the need for PaxEx-related companies to adapt, adapt, adapt. And don’t just ask SkyMall. Ask duty-free providers, onboard telephone suppliers and embedded IFE manufacturers if adaptation is important for them, too.
So queue up yet another list of blogs lamenting “where are we going to buy our insect vacuums now?” and the like. But don’t think SkyMall‘s departures is only due to a lack of desire for “unique” gifts.