United Airlines has decided that it will phase out the printed version of its inflight magazine.
According to media reports, United is the last legacy carrier in the United States to still offer a printed version of an inflight magazine.
UNITED AIRLINES INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
United Airlines is set to phase out the print version of its 32-year-old inflight magazine, Hemispheres.
The publication reportedly has a circulation of 139 million people per year.
DELTA AND AMERICAN AIRLINES
Delta Air Lines and American Airlines phased out their printed inflight magazines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was when measures to reduce the spread of the virus restricted the provision of printed materials on flights.
UNITED AIRLINES
The move will benefit United Airlines twofold. The carrier will reduce the weight of its aircraft as well as be able to offer rich content in digital format.
Furthermore, this enables United Airlines to reach wider online audiences.
In a statement, a spokesperson from United said, “A digital experience allows us to make Hemispheres even better — we can reach a wider audience, offer more personalized content and tell richer stories. We’ve even hired additional United staff to help us bring this new vision to life. We’re excited about the future possibilities and look forward to sharing more details soon.”
AIRLINES SCRAP INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
Hemispheres is the latest inflight magazine to be scrapped, joining a number of other printed publications.
Since airlines seek to cut costs, Delta halted the publishing of its Sky Magazine in 2020.
American followed in 2021 when it scrapped American Way, its longstanding onboard magazine dating back to 1966.
Furthermore, it enables United to reach wider online audiences.
PRINTED ONBOARD MAGAZINES
Very few airlines provide printed inflight magazines nowadays. However, Japan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Lufthansa still do, on some long-haul flights.
AirlineGeeks reports that Finnair estimated it would save between 110 and 276 pounds per aircraft (flight) when it removed its print magazines three years ago.
SUSTAINABILITY GAINS
Though printed magazines may be nice to touch and to page through, they come with high environmental costs.
In fact, the provision of printed materials on aircraft adds weight to flights, resulting in higher carbon emissions.
As well as adding weight to aircraft, printed publications are ink-based products, which are indeed not good for landfill sites.
