CORPORATE TRAVEL
BOARDING PASS All the latest news for the busy EA organising corporate travel
Virgin tightens carry-on baggage rules
Virgin Australia’ s E190-E2 jets raise regional comfort
Virgin Australia’ s new Embraer E190-E2 jets represent a significant upgrade in regional travel comfort and efficiency. Scheduled to debut in late 2025 on routes like Canberra-Perth, these aircraft introduce a 2-2 seating layout( no middle seats), quieter cabins and enhanced overhead storage. The interiors support WiFi
Facial recognition at San Francisco Airport
connectivity, in-seat power and a dual-class configuration( business plus Economy and Economy X). These jets replace the ageing Fokker 100 fleet with an expected 30 % reduction in emissions per trip. First deliveries will go to Perth and be incorporated into Virgin Australia Regional Airlines services. S
If your executive is used to carrying multiple briefcases, documents and gadgets on Virgin Australia flights, they may need to review their packing strategies as the airline rolls out its new carry-on policy from February 2026.
Economy passengers will be allowed one cabin bag up to 8kg plus a small personal item like a laptop bag( the previous system allowed two cabin bags totalling up to 7kg each, which the airline says often led to inconsistencies and overhead locker congestion). Passengers in business, first class and Economy X( or Velocity status holders) will retain a 14kg combined allowance – but no single item can exceed 8kg.
Virgin says the changes will accelerate boarding and reduce delays – one of the key contributors to its on-time performance issues – from oversized bags being checked at the gate. S
San Francisco International Airport has rolled out a touchless facialrecognition system at TSA PreCheck checkpoints. The technology scans a passenger’ s face and instantly verifies it against their government photo record, removing the need to show ID or boarding passes.
Participation is voluntary and limited to registered PreCheck users. The system’ s images are deleted within 24 hours, ensuring privacy compliance. Early trials show faster screening, fewer manual errors and reduced congestion.
SFO is also piloting biometric boarding with major airlines, allowing travellers to board using only facial verification. Airport officials say the initiative aims to make air travel smoother, safer and contact-free. S
Spring Issue 2025 | Executive PA 47