Emirates has announced that all 20,000 of its cabin crew will be provided with Apple gadgets in order to enhance inflight services and passenger experience onboard flights.
The program, called ‘One Device’, will see each cabin crew member receive either an iPhone 13 or iPad Air, configured with a custom-made Emirates app developed to improve inflight services.
Emirates declared that it had already invested more than AED 32 million ($8.7 million) into this initiative and that it started to give Apple devices to its crew more than a year ago. There are currently more than 7,000 crew members using these iPhones.
In the coming months, an additional 5,000 of Emirates’ cabin crew will each receive an iPhone or an iPad with apps and features that build on the successful deployment.
The airline has said that feedback from crew who currently use the gadgets has been positive, saying that the products are “empowering cabin crew to feel better prepared at work and enabling them to offer highly personalized service to passengers”.
Features of the program that will enhance passenger experience include:
- an app to improve the inflight meal order-taking process in Business Class
- an app allowing cabin crew to see each passenger’s profile and Skywards status.
- An app that ensures cabin crew can access up-to-the-minute roster and flight information, view seat changes and upgrades
- an overview of which cabin crew are onboard
The One Device program also enhances cabin crew performance and safety standards by ensuring that they can access 24/7 support globally, including a team of specially trained experts at Emirates’ Dubai hub, as well as via Apple Support.
Cabin crew can also check official processes at any time via remotely updated operational manuals, and use One Device as a platform for continuous education through micro-learning.
Emirates has said that its cabin crew are permitted to use their iPhones for personal use and that their private data remains protected.