Emirates Airline Dumps Its Magazine

This isn't one of the big markets in the US, but it's worth noting that Emirates Airline will no longer carry its paper in-flight magazines and entertainment guides. Instead it will send "similar content" into its in-flight entertainment system. They figure that they'll drop close to 4.5 pounds per passenger this way. It's part of the cost cutting measures the airline is taking because of high fuel prices. (Any irony that this happens first in the Middle East?)

I'm not sure that it will be so long before other carriers consider the same sort of tactic; they're already charging for checked baggage. Also, the people who produce the in-flight digital material are probably different from those that create the printed magazines. Between these two factors, if you count on airline magazines for a significant amount of your business, it might be smart to branch out as quickly as possible and find other clients so you don't get caught in a change, should it happen. And if it doesn't, the worst thing is that you end up with more clients.