United Airlines has announced that it will discontinue the publication of its monthly inflight magazine, Hemispheres, with September 2024 being the final printed edition. After more than 30 years, the carrier plans to move Hemispheres’ content to a new digital version.
For many, Hemispheres set United Airlines apart from its rivals. However, most other US carriers, including the rest of the US Big 3, had already eliminated hemispheres. Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines dropped their inflight magazines during the pandemic, while American Airlines held out until 2021 to end the publication of American Way.
Environmental reasons are likely to have played a part in the carrier’s decision, with a reduction in paper use and the distribution of printed magazines. When looking at scale, printed magazines are also heavy, which is why several years ago, United Airlines began printing Hemispheres on a lighter type of paper, saving around 170,000 gallons of fuel per year – equivalent to around $290,000. By going digital, the carrier removes any additional weight and the associated fuel costs, which is a huge benefit both financially and environmentally.
The pandemic also made passengers more wary of touching contaminated surfaces when traveling, and the idea of reading a magazine already read by hundreds of other people is, for some, perhaps not as appealing as it once was.
Moving Hemispheres to a digital version also ties in with the wider trend of airlines offering streaming services to keep passengers entertained instead. Nowadays, many passengers travel with a personal device on which they can watch TV shows and films or listen to music to pass the time.
Hemispheres – more than 30 years in print
Hemispheres was first produced in 1992 and, since 2009, has been published each month by Ink, one of the world’s leading travel media publishers. One of the magazine’s regular travel features, titled ‘Three Perfect Days,’ proved particularly popular with flyers, developing almost a cult following among those looking for travel inspiration for their next trip.
United Airlines Will Stop Printing Hemispheres Magazines After 32 Years
United Airlines
United Airlines is discontinuing Hemispheres, transitioning to digital content instead.
Many other US carriers have already ended their inflight magazine publications.
Hemispheres generated a lot of revenue for United Airlines.
United Airlines has announced that it will discontinue the publication of its monthly inflight magazine, Hemispheres, with September 2024 being the final printed edition. After more than 30 years, the carrier plans to move Hemispheres’ content to a new digital version.
For many, Hemispheres set United Airlines apart from its rivals. However, most other US carriers, including the rest of the US Big 3, had already eliminated hemispheres. Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines dropped their inflight magazines during the pandemic, while American Airlines held out until 2021 to end the publication of American Way.
United Airlines Airbus A320 (N496UA) departing from Portland International Airport.
Photo: Wenjie Zheng | Shutterstock
Environmental reasons are likely to have played a part in the carrier’s decision, with a reduction in paper use and the distribution of printed magazines. When looking at scale, printed magazines are also heavy, which is why several years ago, United Airlines began printing Hemispheres on a lighter type of paper, saving around 170,000 gallons of fuel per year – equivalent to around $290,000. By going digital, the carrier removes any additional weight and the associated fuel costs, which is a huge benefit both financially and environmentally.
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The pandemic also made passengers more wary of touching contaminated surfaces when traveling, and the idea of reading a magazine already read by hundreds of other people is, for some, perhaps not as appealing as it once was.
United Airlines Boeing 777-322/ER on final approach in Tel Aviv.
Photo: Felix Tchvertkin | Shutterstock
Moving Hemispheres to a digital version also ties in with the wider trend of airlines offering streaming services to keep passengers entertained instead. Nowadays, many passengers travel with a personal device on which they can watch TV shows and films or listen to music to pass the time.
Hemispheres – more than 30 years in print
Hemispheres was first produced in 1992 and, since 2009, has been published each month by Ink, one of the world’s leading travel media publishers. One of the magazine’s regular travel features, titled ‘Three Perfect Days,’ proved particularly popular with flyers, developing almost a cult following among those looking for travel inspiration for their next trip.
United Airlines 787 flying
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Recent Hemispheres articles have included:
Three Perfect Days: Mallorca
Seasonal guide to California
Top 10 boat rides of 2024.
In addition to helping flyers pass the time, Hemispheres was also a huge source of revenue for United Airlines. According to Modern Retail, a full-page advertising spread in Hemispheres has been known to set retailers back up to $115,000.
The future of Hemispheres
However, all is not lost for Hemisphere fans, as United Airlines will move the publication over to a digital format and embrace the opportunities brought by the use of technology. In a statement published by Modern Retail, a spokesperson for United Airlines said,A preview of the digital version is already available on the carrier’s website.