Can't resist your unhealthy craving? A new airline, Smintair, lets you smoke in flight.
From IHT:
If Alexander Schoppmann is right, then where there's smoke, there's a flier. As more countries ban smoking in public places, his idea might seem malapropos. But Schoppmann, a German entrepreneur, is hoping to turn smokers' umbrage at ever-expanding efforts to stub out their habit into a highflying business proposal: Smoker's International Airways.
As the name suggests, the airline, known as Smintair for short, will probably not be for the faint of lung. The carrier, expected to begin luxury service with only business and first-class seats early next year, plans daily flights between Schoppmann's hometown of Düsseldorf and Tokyo - a 12-hour journey that, for some inveterate smokers, is simply not worth the nicotine-withdrawal headache. (INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE)
Smintair
Smoker's International Airline
Trend Themes
1. Luxury Smoking Experiences - The trend of providing high-end, smoking-friendly experiences allows businesses to cater to niche markets and capitalize on smokers' desire for luxury services.
2. Resisting Restrictions - As more countries ban smoking in public places, there is a growing trend of businesses that leverage consumer resistance to these restrictions by offering unique smoking solutions, such as Smoker's International Airways.
3. Catering to Nicotine Needs - The trend of catering to smokers' nicotine needs presents opportunities for innovation in industries like travel and hospitality, where businesses can create smoking-friendly spaces and experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Luxury Travel - The luxury travel industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by offering high-end, smoking-friendly services and spaces to cater to the niche market of smokers who value luxurious travel experiences.
2. Hospitality - In the hospitality industry, there is a disruptive innovation opportunity to create smoking-friendly accommodations and facilities that cater to the needs of smokers, attracting a particular segment of travelers.
3. Airline Industry - The airline industry can capitalize on the trend of providing smoking-friendly flights by exploring disruptive innovation opportunities, such as designated smoking sections or establishing specialized airlines like Smoker's International Airways.