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Singapore based and  always innovative airline Scoot, has announced that it is launching a new inflight portal, ScootHub, as a one-stop shop for all customer needs inflight.

Scoot says that ScootHub, which can be easily accessed from customers’ own mobile devices, will be the first of its kind in the region to offer such diverse functionalities, launching in phases starting in December 2020, with Scoot customers able to order food and beverages from Scoot Café, shop for duty-free items from KrisShop, play games, browse inspirational travel content and more, all from the convenience of their own device.

This transition from physical to digital inflight menus, duty-free catalogues and magazines reduces surface contact and physical interactions between customers and crew, according to Scoot will give customers peace of mind about their health and safety on board, with this reduced interaction also allowing Scoot to resume some inflight services, such as buy-on-board food, which had been temporarily suspended.

In ScootHub’s second phase, from April 2021, customers will be able to book ground activities and attractions while inflight and they will also be able sync their Krisflyer membership to earn or redeem miles when they purchase items via KrisShop or activities and attractions via Pelago, the SIA Group’s new platform for destination inspiration and content, plus Scoot has a roadmap of additional features to be deployed in subsequent phases.

Campbell Wilson, Scoot’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We know that health and safety are top of customers’ minds these days, and that regulatory requirements have changed the inflight experience”, adding, “ScootHub enables us to resume valued services in a safe, low-touch manner, improving customers’ experiences and through reduction in paper-based collaterals, improving our environmental sustainability too.”

“Our investment in this portal is part of Scoot’s comprehensive digitalisation programme, both internal and external, which also includes health-focused initiatives such as touchless check-in kiosks and bag-drop facilities, enhanced online and mobile check-in capabilities, and real-time information on travel requirements.”

With customers able to access ScootHub by using their personal mobile devices to scan a QR code on the seatback, or connect to the “ScootHub” network on their mobile devices, when successfully connected, they will be able to access the following features:

  • Scoot Café
    Food and beverages including hot meal combos, snacks, hot drinks, soft drinks and liquors can be ordered, and payment made via credit card1, on this tab. Cabin crewwill be alerted via their fulfilment device once orders have been placed, and food will be served within 20 minutes to customers at their seats.
  • Scootalogue
    Previously, inflight duty-free shopping only took place at a specific time during the flight. With ScootHub, customers can browse an extensive range of travel essentials, cosmetics, accessories, as well as exclusive Scoot merchandise in the comfort of their seats and make their purchases any time. Payment can be made via credit card on the portal, and cabin crew will deliver the purchases to customers. The range of inflight duty-free shopping items available for sale will steadily grow, and by end-June 2021, customers will be able to access KrisShop.com’s full range of items and delivery
    options.
  • What’s On
    Replacing Scoot’s physical inflight magazines, customers will be able to discover inspirational travel and lifestyle content and, from April 2021 purchase ground attractions and experiences while inflight. For example, if a traveller is flying from Singapore to Melbourne, recommendations on where they can visit or dine in Melbourne will be available for purchase onboard and synced upon arrival, allowing them to immediately head to the attraction or restaurant after clearing immigration.This allows travel and hospitality brands to connect with travellers in more meaningful and mutually beneficial ways, and helps the brands to better understand customers’spontaneous behaviour and preferences.
  • Map
    Passengers can view the flight’s progress in real time via this live map. By end 2021, travel and hospitality brands can also offer relevant content to travellers through realtime geo-positioning on the map. This means that when passengers access the map, they will be able to see attractions, tours or experiences pinned on the map and they can click on the pinned location to find out more.
  • Poll
    Scoot will obtain customers’ feedback on their inflight experience on the spot, while their experience is fresh in their minds. Companies may also use this feature for market surveys so that they can better understand custoers’ travel habits and consumption patterns, in return for incentives such as free drinks or snacks from the Scoot Cafe menu for customers who participate.
  • Inflight Services
    Passengers travelling on our Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be able to purchase in-seat power directly on ScootHub to charge their gadgets during the flight. Onboard seat upgrades, currently suspended to facilitate contact tracing, will be enabled in a subsequent phase.
  • Games
    To keep the young and young at heart entertained during their flights, a myriad of games are also available on the portal, ranging from colouring activities and puzzles, to fun-packed adventures and brain teasers. Streamlining existing content offerings and packing new content formats onto a digital platform, it is estimated that Scoot will reduce paper consumption by more than 156 tonnes of paper (equivalent to over 2,000 trees), translating to over 13 tonnes of fuel saved and over 41 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions reduced a year2

A report by John Alwyn-Jones