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    EASYJET 2070: THE FUTURE TRAVEL REPORT

    3D printed buffet food, heartbeat passports and time travelling holiday experiences; a new report released today reveals the predictions for how we will travel and enjoy our holidays in 50 years’ time.
    The ground-breaking report, commissioned by airline easyJet, forecasts innovations in airport journeys, air travel, accommodation, and holiday experiences.
    The easyJet 2070: The Future Travel Report was authored by a group of leading academics and futurists, including Professor Birgitte Andersen of Birkbeck, University of London and CEO of Big Innovation Centre; Dr Melissa Sterry, design scientist and complex systems theorist; and renowned futurists Shivvy Jervis and Dr Patrick Dixon, as well as Director of Transport Systems at Cranfield University, Professor Graham Braithwaite and Nikhil Sachdeva, Principal for aerospace and defence and sustainable aviation at consultancy Roland Berger.
    easyJet 2070: The Future Travel Report highlights include:
    The airport journey and air travel experience will be revolutionised by technological advances:ADVERTISEMENTHeartbeat and biometric passports will replace the traditional passport, for passengers to breeze through their airport. Much like fingerprints and the retina, every person’s cardiac signature is unique. Passengers’ heartbeat signatures and biometric details will be logged on a global system in the same way finger-print scanning technology works today.

    Ergonomic and biomimetic sensory plane seats will become the norm, with smart materials adapting to passengers’ body shape, height, weight, and temperature, providing the ultimate tailored comfort flying experience
    Inflight entertainment will be beamed directly in front of passenger’s eyes, via optoelectronic devices, replacing the need for onboard screens or downloading movies before you fly
    e-VTOL air taxis will do away with the airport car park shuttle – the journey to the airport will be quicker and more convenient than ever before with 85% of passengers arriving by e-VTOLs from their homes to the terminal.
    As technology advances, we will see significant advances in the accommodation experience abroad:
    3D printed hotel buffet food will allow holidaymakers to 3D print whatever they want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while reducing food waste.
    Subterranean hotels built into the fabric of the earth that are super energy efficient and at one with the environment
    All hotel rooms will be smart rooms with beds already pre-made to exactly desired firmness, ambient temperatures and favourite music playing based upon preferences you select in advance of booking the holiday
    A holographic personal holiday concierge will accompany holidaymakers to provide up to date destination information and assistance throughout their stay
    3D printed, recyclable holiday clothes on arrival at the hotel will remove the need for suitcases and fast holiday fashion as travellers can print the clothes required in their hotel rooms, tailored to their perfect fit and style, and recycle the materials for the next guest to enjoy.
    Human powered hotels which harvest energy from its guests’ footsteps in order to generate power
    Innovations in experiences and activities in destination will be on offer to travellers:
    ‘Time-travelling’ holiday experiences – tomorrow’s travellers will be able to holiday in past by wearing haptic suits at historical sites that enable them to immerse themselves in live historical surroundings marveling wonders of the ancient world like the Colossus of Rhodes during a stroll in Rhodes Town, or cheering among the crowds of the original Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.
    Try before you buy – bionic and Meta holiday previews ahead of going on holiday that allow you to experience locations before booking your holiday
    Underwater ‘sea-faris’ – aquatic adventures onboard submarines for tourists deep beneath the sea discovering marine life in under water marine parks
    Local language in-ear devices will be available to take on holiday to translate the local language in real time and enable us to speak the local lingo
    E-foiling, cable skiing and flyboarding will become the norm on offer for rent on the beach front, truly taking water sports to another level.
    Four of the expert predictions have been brought to life in incredibly detailed renders, showcasing how travel could look in 2070.
    The impressive visuals depict travellers using their unique heartbeats to get through security at the airport, as well as a new way of flying as aircraft are fitted with adaptable, biomimetic seats, with entertainment beamed directly into their eyes. Other images show holidaymakers viewing a true-to-life Colossus of Rhodes wearing haptic suits, and selecting delicious 3d printed food, personalised to their tastes.
    The four images and animations have been presented in a new video, fronted by acclaimed science TV presenter Dallas Campbell, which sees him discussing what these predictions could mean for what air travel could look like for travellers of the future.
    Brits were also asked to choose which of the experts’ predictions they would most like to see become a reality, with nine in ten (90%) of British adults saying they were excited or intrigued by what technological advances would make travelling look like in 50 years’ time.
    Three quarters (75%) of Brits say that these technological advances would make them more likely to go on holiday in the future.

    The survey of 2,000 British adults revealed that that biometric heartbeat passports and time-travelling holiday experiences, are the advancements in travel that the nation would most like to see happen by 2070.
    Top 15 Travel predictions Brits would most like to see become a reality when it comes:
    ‘Time-travelling’ holiday experiences via haptic suits that allow you to visit historical sites but see how life would have played out many years ago (i.e.: seeing Colossus of Rhodes in 280BC) 42%
    Seamless airport security – using biometric heartbeat passports 38%
    Under water ‘sea-faris’ taking tourists on aquatic adventures to the depths of the ocean 32%
    Subterranean hotels built into the fabric of the earth that are super energy efficient and at one with the environment 26%
    Smart hotels with personalised holiday rooms – that adapt and configure to travelers needs and wants on arrival   25%
    In-ear devices will be available to take on holiday to translate the local language in real time and enable us to speak the local lingo 24%
    ‘Try before you buy’ bionic and Metaverse holiday previews will provide holidaymakers with a virtual experience allowing them to see, hear, smell and feel a destination before booking 23%
    Ergonomic and biomimetic sensory plane seats that adapt to passengers’ body shape, weight and temperature providing ultimate comfort 20%
    3D printed hotel buffet food serving up any all-inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner that holidaymakers desire – and reducing food waste 19%
    Inflight entertainment beamed directly in front of passengers’ eyes, doing away with the need to download shows before you fly or the need for onboard TV screens 18%
    Week-long holiday package trips to the moon 17%
    e-VTOL air taxis taking passengers from home to the airport terminal, as well as ferrying holidaymakers around city locations abroad 14%
    Autonomous rent-a-car services on location – driverless hire vehicles that ferry travellers around their holiday destination 13%
    Digital holographic personal concierge – accompanying holidaymakers to provide up-to-date destination information and advice 11%
    3D printed recyclable holiday clothes available on arrival at hotel, doing away with suitcases 10%
    Speaking about the report, easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said:
    “Innovation is in our DNA and we’re always challenging ourselves to think big and look at how we can make travel even easier for people all across Europe, both today and for generations to come. From biometric heartbeat passports to time-travelling holiday experiences, travel in 2070 is likely to be very different and exciting indeed.”
    TV presenter Dallas Campbell, who has brought the predictions to life in a new video, said:
    “Some of the predictions in easyJet’s new report are absolutely astonishing – a personal favourite is the idea of being able to travel back in time through haptic suits, I’d love to be able to experience the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the very first Olympic Games. With everything from the airport, aircraft and destinations set to evolve, travelers are in for some amazing developments as the travel industry continues the evolve and thrive.”
    Heading up the report, Professor Birgitte Andersen of Birkbeck College, said:
    “This next 50 years will bring the largest technological advances we have ever seen in travel and tourism. Aspects of how we holiday will be transformed beyond recognition; in the future holidaymakers will be queuing at the hotel buffet to have their breakfast omelettes and fry-ups 3D printed by machines, our heartbeat will become our passport, and in-ear devices will translate the local language in real time and enable us to speak the local lingo. Looking forward, by the year 2070 the destinations we fly to, the type of accommodation we stay in, and the experiences we have, will have changed immeasurably.”
    The full report is available to download at https://mediacentre.easyjet.com/story/15734

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    Dohop partners with AEGEAN to launch new flight connections platform: ‘AEGEAN Beyond’

    Dohop today announced the launch of ‘AEGEAN Beyond’, a new connecting platform that allows AEGEAN’s passengers to book multi-leg journeys across Europe and beyond.‘AEGEAN Beyond’ offers passengers a wide range of destinations by displaying possible flight combinations between AEGEAN and other collaborating airlines on a single platform, facilitating a streamlined booking process. This service allows AEGEAN to further expand its network and connect passengers from all sides of Greece with a number of destinations across Europe, North America, Africa, and beyond. As part of this launch, “AEGEAN Beyond” includes connections with partner airlines like EasyJet, Vueling and Air Transat.
    ‘AEGEAN Beyond’, which is powered by Dohop’s API-based technology, enables travelers to book connecting flights along with a variety of ancillary services in one booking process. Bookings made through “AEGEAN Beyond” also include access to Dohop’s connection service, which provides travelers with additional support in the event of flight delays or cancellations.
    Sarah Hanan, Chief Commercial Officer at Dohop, said: “We are thrilled to partner with AEGEAN Airlines, who are perfectly positioned geographically to benefit from connectivity between East and West. At Dohop, we understand the importance of building strong partnerships with airlines and have delivered a solution for AEGEAN that supports network expansion through connections with other carriers. We are collaborating closely to find new opportunities and grow this partnership even further in 2023.”
    Jaggi Roland, Chief Commercial Officer at AEGEAN, added: “We are delighted to have worked with Dohop and our selected partner airlines to provide a new innovative service for a seamless travel to our passengers. With this new platform we wish to take flight connectivity to the next level for our passengers by offering them more destinations to discover and more flights to book. We at AEGEAN are always committed to add additional value and choices to our customers, through establishing partnerships with eminent, and technologically advanced partners, such as Dohop.”
    Michèle Barre, Vice-President, Network, Revenue Management and Pricing at Air Transat, said: “Air Transat is proud to be partnering with AEGEAN, therefore improving connectivity between Canada and two high-demand markets: Greece and the Middle East. We carefully select our partners to ensure that they share our values and commitment to excellence, and AEGEAN is no exception.”ADVERTISEMENTDawn Hardwick, easyJet Distribution Manager commented: “With our leading short-haul European network of primary airports spanning nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 airports across 35 countries, by partnering with Aegean once again, following the addition of their services to our Worldwide by easyJet connections service, we are delighted to be offering convenient connectivity to even more customers looking to explore Greece and beyond, all with great value fares and the friendly service we’re famous for.”
    To learn more about “AEGEAN Beyond” by AEGEAN please visit: beyond.aegeanair.com.

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    Manchester Airport partners with HyNet to secure direct supply of hydrogen fuel for its airline part

    Manchester Airport has unveiled plans to become the first UK airport with a direct supply of low carbon hydrogen fuel, announcing a partnership with HyNet – one of the UK’s leading Government-backed industrial decarbonisation projects.The airport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the two founding partners of HyNet. Progressive Energy, which develops projects to decarbonise the energy sector, and Cadent, which will build and operate HyNet’s hydrogen pipeline network.
    Through the MoU, the partners are aiming to deliver hydrogen to the aviation sector at the earliest opportunity, including through the connection of Manchester Airport to a pipeline being developed by HyNet.
    The announcement has been backed by Aviation Minister Baroness Vere and Energy and Climate Change Minister Graham Stuart, as well as the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and North West Hydrogen Alliance.
    Hydrogen technology will play a key role in decarbonising the aviation sector with hydrogen-powered aircraft expected to come into operation from the mid-2030s for short-haul journeys. A research project conducted by FlyZero involving Manchester Airports Group (MAG) estimated that the demand for liquid hydrogen at an airport the size of Manchester could be 6.5 million litres a day by 2050.
    HyNet brings together the technology and infrastructure needed to move the region rapidly zero future, including producing low carbon hydrogen that can be used to power aircraft of the future. As a result of the MoU signed today, the partners will work together to assess the future demand for hydrogen for aviation and explore the feasibility to connect Manchester Airport to HyNet’s regional network.ADVERTISEMENTWith this connection, the airport aims to be the first to establish a direct pipeline of hydrogen, to supply any of its 60+ airlines with the sustainable fuel at the earliest opportunity, forming a key component of wider plans to decarbonise flying. The process also aims to drive innovation and the creation of green jobs for the region.
    Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director, Manchester Airport said:
    “This announcement demonstrates the meaningful action we are taking to ensure we can deliver a carbon-free future for the aviation industry.
    “The partnership between Manchester Airport and HyNet is a significant step forward for the future use of hydrogen across the North West, building a more sustainable future for the region.
    “By securing a direct supply of hydrogen for our airport, our 60 airlines will be able to make use of this exciting and ground-breaking technology as soon as possible.
    “The use of hydrogen will make a significant contribution to the UK aviation sector’s decarbonisation efforts and supports industry partners in reaching net zero.”
    Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said: “Hydrogen offers great potential to decarbonise flying, but we need the right infrastructure at our airports to help harness that opportunity.
    “We are funding the multi-million pound Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure project, which has already published important findings, and it’s great to see industry now pushing ahead in this area to make zero emission flight a reality”.
    Energy and Climate Change Minister Graham Stuart said: “Set to be the new superfuel of the future, hydrogen will be essential in powering UK industries, including the aviation sector, as we move toward ending our dependency on fossil fuels.
    “This new partnership is an exciting step that will help put the North West at the heart of efforts to make the UK a world-leading hydrogen economy.”
    A panel event held to mark the signing of the MoU was attended by 30 leading figures from the industry, including:
    ·    Progressive Energy Chief Executive Chris Mason Whitton
    ·    Cadent Head of Regional Development Helen Boyle
    ·    Progressive Energy Head of Industrial Hydrogen Adam Baddeley
    ·    MAG Head of ESG and Environmental Strategy Adam Freeman
    The panel discussed what would be required to realise a hydrogen future for aviation, and how decarbonisation clusters like HyNet can work with the industry to service its demand for the new technology and infrastructure.
    Following the panel event, Manchester Airport and HyNet’s political and industry partners sat down for a roundtable discussion about the partnership’s next steps and what support could be offered to accelerate hydrogen use in the North West. Those organisations in attendance included the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Connected Places Catapult, the Zero Emission Flight Group Secretariat, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Liverpool City Region.
    HyNet will begin to decarbonise the North West from the mid-2020s. By 2030, it will be capable of removing up to 10 million tonnes of carbon emissions from across North West England and North Wales each year – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.
    Chris Manson-Whitton, CEO Progressive Energy said: “HyNet will transform the region by the mid-2020s through delivering low carbon hydrogen produced locally at the UK’s first facilities including Vertex Hydrogen and a range of electrolytic plants.  We have a huge level of demand for HyNet hydrogen from across the North West and North Wales from a range of sectors stretching from glass and paper to food and drink to consumer goods.
    “HyNet will enable the decarbonisation of industry and transport sectors and, by developing a hydrogen economy, is set to generate a £17 billion economic impact for North West England and North Wales, providing a much-needed boost for businesses across the region.
    “We are extremely pleased to be working with Manchester Airport to make a significant impact on decarbonising aviation as we all play our part in reaching net zero and combating climate change.”
    Manchester Airport – as part of MAG – has a target to make its own operations net zero carbon by 2038, 12 years ahead of the UK national target and two years ahead of the target set for UK airports in the Government’s Jet Zero Strategy. The use of hydrogen fuel technology will play a pivotal role in aviation decarbonisation, alongside other levers including airspace modernisation and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
    This announcement on hydrogen technology comes a year after MAG announced its partnership with Fulcrum BioEnergy UK which aims to make Manchester Airport the first in the UK to have a direct supply of SAF from the mid-2020s.
    This means that the UK’s third largest airport is making progress towards the supply of both sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen, laying the foundation for airlines to operate low and zero emission flights in the future. Manchester Airport is also working with Progressive Energy on how its own onsite infrastructure can be adapted to deliver this technology into reality.
    Manchester Airport recently became a member of the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA), a regional body which brings together organisations with the aim of developing the North West in to the UK’s primary hydrogen economy.
    To support the publication of the Government’s Jet Zero Strategy in July this year, MAG issued five Jet Zero Pledges to support the decarbonisation of UK aviation. One pledge incentivises the Group’s airlines to operate emission-free transatlantic flights, offering five years of free landing fees, and sits alongside others including commitments to improving education and PhD research on decarbonisation.
    MAG’s long-term sustainability plans are detailed in its CSR Strategy “Working together for a brighter future”, published in 2020. Alongside the 2038 net zero target, the Strategy sets out other decarbonisation initiatives and incentives including a commitment to introducing emission-based landing fees for airlines and the publication of league tables in the future.
    Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: “The partnership between Manchester Airport and HyNet is another fantastic example of the North of England being at the forefront of the UK’s green energy revolution, supporting jobs and growth as well as moving us steps closer towards Net Zero.
    “Hydrogen will play an important role for the future of fuels in the UK, and it is pleasing to see developments in how we can ensure Manchester Airport has a direct supply of low-carbon hydrogen fuel that will provide benefits across the wider region.”
    Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK said: “UK airlines are fully committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Hydrogen is an important part of the realisation of this goal, alongside SAF, carbon removals, airspace modernisation and other pathways, and offer exciting potential in the interim on shorter routes, including domestically in the UK.
    “Airport infrastructure for hydrogen will be vital to enabling future zero emission aircraft to operate, so we welcome today’s announcement by Manchester Airport and HyNet, and look forward to working with other UK airports on similar projects. Collaboration across UK aviation and aerospace is the only way we will hit net zero, and as airlines we remain committed to playing our full part in this shared endeavour.”
    Professor Joe Howe, Chair of the North West Hydrogen Alliance and Executive Director, Energy Research Institute at the University of Chester, said: “The partnership between Manchester Airport and HyNet is a great example of how hydrogen can play a leading role in delivering net zero ambitions on a monumental scale here in the North West.
    “The fact that Manchester Airport could become the first UK airport with a direct supply of low-carbon hydrogen fuel is an exciting prospect as we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, more sustainable future for the region.”

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