PAPERLESS PLANES AND PUBLISHERS

Print will soon be a thing of the past on Singapore Airlines as the airline continues to roll-out a new in-flight entertainment system that offers publishers the chance to have their magazine available as digital editions.

Already some 20 global magazines are available across around 60 per cent of the SQ fleet, and by the end of August the airline will not be carrying any print on its flights - and saving considerable weight, fuel and money in the process.

Last week in Singapore I was invited behind the scenes to see the testing and to enjoy a demonstration of the 'page flipping' interactive system. For publishers it's not cheap to be part of the service, but with a captive audience, the ability for readers to interact with the publisher and - perhaps most importantly - the ability to have each view recorded and audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, it's something that may prove irresistible to many publishers.