Virgin Atlantic has always been an airline of firsts - the first airline to introduce free limos, Drive Thru check-in, onboard bars and even onboard massage in
Upper Class, the first airline to introduce seat-back TV for everyone including Economy passengers and even the first airline to introduce a whole new class of travel with their Premium Economy cabin.  To coincide with the 21st anniversary of its inaugural flight to New York, Virgin Atlantic are announcing another first…‘Podcasting’. 

Podcasting is the latest way of distributing audio content via the Internet and Virgin Atlantic is the first UK company to create Podcast specific content and the first to produce a branded Podcatcher (software to down load the Podcast).

The first Podcast from Virgin Atlantic is a series of four audio guides to New York. They begin with a guide to the ten coolest restaurants, the second is an insider’s guide to shopping, the third is all about ‘off-the-beaten-track’ New York and is a guide to the cool and quirky.  The fourth is a guide to the ten things you just have to do, if you’re on your first trip to the Big Apple.

Podcasting is transforming the way people use their iPod and other MP3 players as it enables them to download content and listen to it at a time that suits them - whether they’re travelling, in the gym, walking the dog or relaxing at home.  The Podcatcher is an application to download and manage Pod cast content.  It also gives you the option to automatically receive new content and have it synched to your MP3 player (eg iPod) or software (eg iTunes).  Other Podcatcher software does already exist but the Virgin Atlantic Podcatcher is specifically designed to bring Podcasting to a whole new audience as the medium develops beyond its core early adopters.

For those already familiar with Podcasting, the Podcast will be available through your usual Podcast software http://virginatlantic.loudish.com/rss/fullfeed.xml
The Virgin Atlantic Podcatcher and host site were created by Loudish, a UK based company that specialises in software and infrastructure for the mass delivery of Podcasts.

Phillip Whelan of Loudish said:

“We are very excited to be helping Virgin Atlantic deliver this innovative Podcast.  It is a great way to reach lots of their travellers with their excellent and informative content.”

Virgin Atlantic’s Podcasts will be quickly followed by guides to other destinations as well as more in-depth broadcasts on anything and everything to do with Virgin’s destinations from live radio shows, walking tours, to what’s on guides and personal experiences.

Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/ Y&R and Manning Gottlieb OMD are jointly sourcing, developing and editing the content.  Any feedback and ideas for future Podcasts are welcomed from any listeners to build a library content for those who are flying to New York soon, thinking about flying there or just plain interested in the most vibrant city in the world.  Email: [email protected]

The Virgin Atlantic Podcatcher, is available free from www.virginatlantic.com/podcast for all travellers, who want to explore their destination or just want to find out more about Podcasting from Virgin Atlantic.

Breda Bubear, Head of Advertising and Communication at Virgin Atlantic said:

“Podcasting gives us a fantastic opportunity to communicate with our customers in a new and innovative way.  We believe that providing travellers with relevant destination content will help them plan their trip, and giving it to them in a portable format will enable them to make the most of their time away.  We’re very excited to be championing this new technology.”

Neil Yoxall of RKCR/Y&R said

“Podcasting is just a brilliant way of encouraging the connection people have with destinations and who better to do that than
Virgin Atlantic?”

Jean-Paul Edwards of Manning Gottlieb OMD said:

“This is an innovative idea which, we hope, will introduce a whole new audience to the world of Podcasting.  We are really pleased to help bring it to life.”
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