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Insights & Innovation

Leveraging over 80 years of aviation expertise, explore the latest insights from the travel industry covering everything from opinion pieces and thought leadership to our latest product releases, technology updates, and more.

One year ago, CAVU introduced something entirely new to UK air travel: a private terminal experience previously reserved for the ultra-wealthy, now accessible from just £99.
Located at Manchester Airport, <a href="https://experienceaether.com">aether – The Private Terminal</a> offers more than premium lounging. It&#8217;s a complete reimagining of the airport journey, featuring on-site parking, dedicated baggage processing, The Dining Experience by Adam Reid, private security and passport control, and seamless BMW transfers directly to and from your gate.
In its first year, aether has transformed how thousands of travellers experience Manchester Airport – earning glowing reviews, repeat visits, and coverage from national and international media. Here, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidistancliffe/">CAVU&#8217;s Head of Product Strategy, Heidi Stancliffe</a>, reflects on bringing this innovative concept to market and what lies ahead.

CAVU: aether has just passed its first anniversary; how would you summarise the journey so far?
Heidi: It&#8217;s been quite a journey! Bookings were strong right from the start when we opened in early November 2024. Our launch week coincided with both the MTV EMA Awards and Liverpool Comic Con, which created an energetic atmosphere with plenty of high-profile guests passing through. The team rose to the occasion brilliantly.
Since then, that same team spirit has carried us through countless milestones – from hosting large group events to celebrating aether&#8217;s very first marriage proposal. aether is a truly unique operation, blending technical precision with outstanding hospitality and seamless coordination. We&#8217;re incredibly proud of the stable, resilient, and dynamic team that has made our first year such a success.
CAVU: How has aether addressed the growing demand for premium airport experiences?
Heidi: As airport terminals have grown larger and busier, travel has become increasingly challenging – particularly for passengers with specific needs. At the same time, today&#8217;s travellers are more willing to invest in experiences that enhance comfort, maximise their time, and create memorable moments.
Traditional lounges provide a welcome step up – a comfortable seat and refreshments – but aether offers something altogether different. It delivers a complete journey defined by personalised service. We like to describe it as effortless, though many guests tell us it makes them feel like a &#8220;rockstar.&#8221;
For high-profile guests, aether offers privacy. For business travellers, it&#8217;s a space to maximise productivity. For leisure travellers, it&#8217;s an opportunity to start a special trip in style – or simply to treat themselves to something extraordinary.

CAVU: What makes aether stand out in delivering a premium experience?
Heidi: Like any true premium experience, what sets aether apart isn&#8217;t just the physical environment – it&#8217;s the way guests are welcomed, cared for, and made to feel throughout their journey. While aether is undoubtedly innovative, it&#8217;s not driven by high-tech features or automation. In fact, it&#8217;s more hands-on than a conventional airport terminal.
What defines aether is the human touch – those small, personal interactions and the reassurance that both you and your baggage are being looked after from start to finish. It&#8217;s a level of care and connection that simply isn&#8217;t possible within the scale of mainstream air travel.
CAVU: You&#8217;ve also just been re-elected Chair of the World Airports VIP Forum (WAVF). How have the insights from this role helped shape aether?
Heidi: It&#8217;s an honour to be re-elected as Chair of the World Airports VIP Forum – a prestigious global network of airports offering premium lounges and services. The group is focused on sharing best practices and continually raising the bar for product and service excellence.
Many airports have operated premium services – the broader category for concepts like aether – for decades, so there&#8217;s a wealth of insight to draw upon. (We tend to avoid using the term VIP, as aether is designed to feel far more accessible.) The shared knowledge within the forum has been invaluable in helping us refine every detail of the experience. Now that aether is more established, we&#8217;re able to focus on those finer nuances that elevate the journey even further.

CAVU: Can you share a standout success story from aether&#8217;s first year?
Heidi: aether&#8217;s success is clear from the glowing reviews, repeat visits, and word-of-mouth recommendations it has received. It&#8217;s been praised by a wide spectrum of travellers – from diplomatic guests and celebrities to those marking a special occasion or simply looking for a more seamless journey.
Perhaps most rewarding are the stories from guests who find air travel challenging. Several have told us that aether has given them the confidence to travel again – to visit family and friends – because they feel more comfortable using aether than navigating a large, busy terminal. That kind of feedback perfectly captures what aether is all about: making premium travel experiences both exceptional and accessible.

CAVU: How do insights or feedback from guests directly feed into updates in aether&#8217;s offering?
Heidi: Guest feedback has been both fascinating and invaluable in shaping aether&#8217;s evolution. For instance, our food and beverage offering developed significantly over the first few months – we introduced an accelerated service for arriving guests and expanded options for regular visitors.
We&#8217;ve also learned a great deal about how to communicate a completely new concept to travellers who may be unfamiliar with what aether offers. It&#8217;s been about finding the right balance – language and imagery that resonate, excite, and reassure. As a result, we&#8217;ve refined our tone of voice, evolved our visual identity, and created new video content to help bring the experience to life.
CAVU: How is aether planning to evolve or expand its offering?
Heidi: We have lots planned for the year ahead. aether is a complex product to operate, so the early months were focused on establishing a stable, resilient operation – something the team has achieved brilliantly. Now that we&#8217;re on firm ground, it&#8217;s exciting to bring to life ideas that have been in development since launch.
We&#8217;re introducing aether gift vouchers just in time for the holiday season, allowing guests to share the experience with others. Next, we&#8217;re exploring an annual membership – a feature regular travellers have been requesting since day one. We&#8217;re also looking to expand aether&#8217;s role as a distinctive premium events space, welcoming both travelling and non-travelling guests for exclusive occasions.
Discover more about aether – The Private Terminal by <a href="https://experienceaether.com/">visiting the website</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/experience-aether/about/">following the LinkedIn page</a>.

Discover how aether – The Private Terminal at Manchester Airport has redefined premium travel in its first year, offering personalised service, private security and affordable luxury.

Aether

One year of aether: Elevating the lounge experience for the modern traveller

We&#8217;re proud to announce a new five-year agreement with Brisbane Airport, extending our long-standing partnership through to 2030. As part of the agreement, Brisbane Airport will migrate from our legacy MagRes platform to Propel, our advanced eCommerce platform, unlocking new levels of flexibility, scalability, and innovation. 
This renewal marks an important milestone in our collaboration and reflects the tangible results our partnership has delivered over recent years. 
Brisbane Airport’s decision to extend its partnership has been shaped by the consistent performance of its parking business, which has seen record-breaking growth. The CAVU booking platform has supported this growth through assisting in optimising conversion, yield, and customer engagement, helping to deliver Brisbane’s non-aero revenue streams. 
Together, we’ve also delivered genuine first-to-market innovation. A standout example is the integration of Escape Lounges into the parking booking flow – the first initiative of its kind in Australia. This has created new revenue opportunities while giving passengers a more connected and valuable travel experience. 
By migrating to Propel, Brisbane Airport will benefit from a platform designed to scale and evolve alongside its ambitions. New features will enhance customer experience not just for parking, but across the wider non-aeronautical landscape, helping Brisbane deliver on its vision of becoming a world-class travel hub. 
Nolan Hough, Chief Growth Officer at CAVU, said: 
<blockquote>This agreement is a strong endorsement of the value we’ve created together with Brisbane Airport. Over the years, our partnership has been defined by innovation and shared ambition, from delivering record growth in parking to pioneering new customer experiences like integrated lounge bookings. We’re excited to continue this journey with Brisbane as they move onto Propel and set new benchmarks for the airport experience.</blockquote>
Reflecting on the renewed partnership and the transition to Propel, Paul Laws, Head of Parking and Transport at Brisbane Airport, said: 
<blockquote>Our partnership with CAVU has been a key element in driving the growth and success of Brisbane Airport’s parking and ground transport business. Together, we’ve delivered innovative experiences that make travel through Brisbane easier and more rewarding. Moving to the Propel platform is the next step in that journey, giving us the flexibility to evolve with our customers’ needs and continue leading the way in connected airport experiences.</blockquote>
This agreement marks a mutual commitment to keep innovating and delivering value. With Propel as the foundation, Brisbane Airport is well-positioned to improve its capabilities and redefine what connected travel looks like for its passengers.

Brisbane Airport extends its CAVU partnership to 2030, migrating to Propel to drive growth, innovation, and enhanced passenger experiences.

Brisbane Airport Propel Website (1)

Brisbane Airport renews partnership with CAVU and migrates to Propel

We&#8217;re excited to announce that Escape Lounges will soon be opening at Omaha Eppley Airfield in Nebraska, bringing travellers a premium lounge experience that celebrates the spirit of Omaha. 
Our newest lounge has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the city&#8217;s unique character, from the creative energy of the Benson neighborhood and historic charm of the Old Market to the natural beauty of the prairie landscape and the Missouri River.
The space features distinct zones to meet the needs of different travellers, whether you&#8217;re looking to enjoy great food and drink or catch up on work before your flight.

CAVU&#8217;s VP of Experiences Growth, Craig Pring, explained what travellers can look forward to:
<blockquote>We&#8217;re thrilled to be bringing Escape Lounges to Omaha Eppley Airfield. We&#8217;ve created distinct zones throughout the lounge to meet the needs of different travellers &#8211; whether that&#8217;s a comfortable space to enjoy great food and drink, or an area to catch up on work before take-off. We&#8217;re looking forward to welcoming passengers and giving them a travel experience that truly feels rooted in this community.</blockquote>

The Omaha Escape Lounge will offer a full-service bar, a curated selection of hot and cold dishes, and airfield views, all part of our commitment to creating environments that are both refined and deeply connected to the communities we serve. 
Omaha joins our growing range of <a href="https://escapelounges.com/us/airport-lounges/">20 lounges across the US</a>, each dedicated to providing excellent service and a relaxing pre-flight experience. 
Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to welcome travellers to our newest location.
<h2 aria-level="2">About Escape Lounges </h2>
Escape Lounges are all-inclusive premium airport lounges open to all travellers, offering complimentary food and beverages, comfortable seating, high-speed Wi-Fi, flight information, and access to over 7,000 digital publications. Learn more at <a href="http://escapelounges.com">escapelounges.com</a>.

Learn about our new Escape Lounge coming to Omaha Eppley Airfield, joining our network of 20 premium US airport lounges.

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Escape Lounges coming to Omaha Eppley Airfield

We&#8217;re thrilled to announce that we&#8217;ve signed a new multi-year contract with Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, to power a more seamless travel experience for millions of passengers.
This expanded agreement brings our longstanding services under one strategic contract, strengthening our role as a core infrastructure partner in Ryanair’s digital ecosystem, deepening collaboration, and unlocking new revenue opportunities across their European network.
Building on more than a decade of collaboration, the new agreement formalises and extends our relationship with Ryanair. Previously delivered through separate agreements across ParkVia, Looking4, and MAG, the partnership is now unified under the CAVU brand. As part of the agreement, we&#8217;ll deliver airport parking, fast-track security, and transfers across a significant portion of Ryanair’s network. 
This deeper integration marks a pivotal shift in how Ryanair delivers ancillary services. By embedding the propel™ API directly into its digital platforms, Ryanair can now offer a fully native booking experience, providing customers greater control, speed, and value across the journey.  
“Our relationship with Ryanair began over a decade ago through our B2C brands,” said Martin Jones, CEO at CAVU. “What began as a marketplace offering has grown into a strategic infrastructure partnership. This latest agreement brings them closer to the passenger and delivering measurable value in both revenue and customer experience.”  
Greg O’Gorman, Director of Ancillary Revenue at Ryanair, said:
<blockquote>Ryanair is pleased to partner with CAVU in delivering an enhanced digital experience for our customers across Europe. As Europe’s No.1 airline, we’re committed to offering passengers the best choice and value, not just in the air, but throughout their journey.
Through our collaboration with CAVU, we’re improving access to airport services like parking and fast track, while delivering a seamless, tech-led experience that our customers expect.</blockquote>
The agreement reflects our shared ambition to grow and evolve the digital passenger experience while unlocking greater value from ancillary services.

We're thrilled to announce that we've signed a new multi-year contract with Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, to power a more seamless travel experience for millions of passengers.

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CAVU and Ryanair extend partnership to enhance airport travel

We’re proud to announce a new partnership with Datalex, a market leader in airline ecommerce solutions. This collaboration will transform how ancillary products are offered to passengers across major airline booking journeys.
Through this partnership, CAVU’s portfolio of third-party airport ancillaries – such as fast track, parking and lounge access – will be integrated into Datalex’s Stellex Platform, its market-leading Offer &amp; Order Management System, via a direct API connection.
This integration will enhance Stellex’s existing ancillary offering by enabling Datalex’s airline partners to manage and sell a broader set of products within the booking flow, creating a more seamless experience for passengers while driving higher conversion rates for airlines and airports.
While CAVU already powers white-label solutions for Datalex partners such as Aer Lingus and easyJet, this marks the first time our offers will be embedded directly into their core booking journey, meeting customers when purchase intent is highest.
Alan Dunne, Chief Product Officer at Datalex, said:
<blockquote>The most exciting part of working with CAVU is being able to offer our airline clients global airport services through a single integration and speedy time to market.</blockquote>
With both teams aligned on improving the passenger experience and unlocking new revenue opportunities, Nolan Hough, Chief Growth Officer at CAVU, shares his view on the partnership:
<blockquote>We’re delighted to be partnering with Datalex, who play a key role in helping CAVU connect our inventory with airlines and their customers. Their product, technology, expertise and culture are a great fit with ours, and we’re excited to see our partnership continue to grow.</blockquote>
With the agreement finalised and technical integration underway, we&#8217;re looking forward to expanding the partnership in the months to come.
We’re excited to work closely with Datalex to help shape the future of connected travel, delivering greater value for passengers while driving commercial growth for airlines, airports, and their partners.

Discover how we’ve partnered with Datalex to include airport products within airline booking flows, enhancing experiences and boosting conversions.

CAVU Datalex

CAVU partners with Datalex to include airport products within airline booking journeys

We’re excited to announce that <a href="https://www.sunshinecoastairport.com.au">Sunshine Coast Airport</a> has chosen <a href="https://ca.vu/platform/">propel™</a> as its new parking pre-book platform. 
propel™ replaces the airport’s existing system and offers travellers a smoother, more customer-friendly experience while helping the airport drive greater commercial performance 
Stewart Bryant, Commercial Manager &#8211; Parking and Ground Transport at Sunshine Coast Airport, said: 
<blockquote>The partnership with CAVU is designed to provide our customers with an easy parking and airport experience. 
The new online booking system allows customers to pre-book and secure a parking spot in a simplified way through a more intuitive and user-friendly website process. Making parking and travel for business, seeing family or holidays even easier at Sunshine Coast Airport. 
We anticipate the new online booking system will be operational in August. We needed to create an enjoyable customer booking and parking experience, and CAVU was the ideal choice.</blockquote>
This represents a step forward in CAVU’s mission to modernise airport parking, and we’re excited to collaborate with Sunshine Coast Airport’s team to deliver a solution that benefits both passengers and the business.

Sunshine Coast Airport selects propel™ as its new parking platform, offering smoother bookings and stronger commercial performance with CAVU.

Insights and innovation

Mapping the future of travel experiences [Infographic]

5 ways digital integration will transform pre-trip in 2026

Why real-time data will be key to in-airport experiences in 2026

One year of aether: Elevating the lounge experience for the modern traveller

Brisbane Airport renews partnership with CAVU and migrates to Propel

Escape Lounges coming to Omaha Eppley Airfield

CAVU and Ryanair extend partnership to enhance airport travel

CAVU partners with Datalex to include airport products within airline booking journeys

Sunshine Coast Airport selects propel™ as its new parking pre-book platform