Posted on: Wednesday, December 10, 2003

America West selling ads on tray tables in all planes

By Beth DeFalco
Associated Press

PHOENIX — When air travelers flip down the tray tables on their America West Airlines flights, they'll be getting more than the usual peanuts or pretzels later this month. They'll also be getting advertising.

America West executives said yesterday they had begun selling tray table advertising, and the idea is taking off.

America West sold advertising on all of its 143 planes through the first quarter of 2004, said Scott Kirby, America West executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Advertisers on board include Visa, Mercedes-Benz USA, The History Channel and Bank of America. Ads will start appearing Monday.

The revenue from ads is one way to keep fares low, Kirby said.

"Tray table ads are very similar to buying meals aboard the aircraft," he said. "It seems to be a no-brainer for other airlines to follow suit once we've blazed the trail."

The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier was the first to experiment with in-flight food sales early this year, and is near an agreement to offer the service permanently. Other airlines quickly followed.

Tray table advertising is the brain child of Nick Pajic, president of SkyMedia International.

Advertisers can buy 10 percent, 25 percent, half or all the airline's fleet with a minimum eight-week run at $3,300 a plane, Pajic said.