Redpoint Media unveils new-look, new-name WestJet Magazine

WestJet is the new up!  The inflight magazine of WestJet, published by Calgary-based Redpoint Media, is unveiling a new look and a new name (WestJet Magazine) to replace its previous name up!, as well as a redesigned website. 

Associate Publisher Pritha Kalar says the redesign reflects the character of the brand. "It was essential to give WestJet guests the most seamless, inspiring, accessible experience possible, because that's what they've come to expect," says Kalar. "We're extremely proud of the new design, which is contemporary, highly visual and really expresses the passion and excitement of travel."

The January print issue in seatbacks features a curated list of the top 15 places to visit in 2015, as well as advice for dining in New York City from Anthony Bourdain. A digital issue is downloadable for Apple, Android or Kindle. 

enRoute magazine called number one inflight by CNN International

CNN International has named Air Canada's enRoute magazine, published by Spafax, as number 1 among the 12 best inflight magazines in the world.

It says in fairly waspish terms that inflights are "Always glossy, sometimes stupid, they await you in every seat-back pocket. But which in-flight mags are worth the read?". enRoute wins its praise for concentrating on travel rather than general interest.

"An almost ridiculously tricked-out version of the in-flight concept, Air Canada’s mag is oversized, beautifully designed, generally well written and essentially snickering at the competition.

"Just about every other mag on this list could learn something from enRoute’s classy, of-the-moment design and fantastic original photography....

"Balances breezy globalism (the issues we reviewed visited Bellingham, Washington, the Black Forest, Patagonia and seemingly everywhere else), and that Canadian thing (stories about the Northwest Territories, beer-drinking hockey players)."

The sole criticism is of heavy-handed promotion of the sponsoring airline's vacation packages.

Up Here inflight distribution deal with Canadian North airline ends

Canadian North airlines says it intends to replace seat-pocket copies of Yellowknife-based Up Here magazine with its own publication. The airline reportedly told the magazine's publishers early in March. The story went public this week when reported on the CBC.

The end of the partnership involves about 5,000 copies of each issue of Up Here (perhaps 7,000 in a double issue) or about 16% of the magazine's circulated copies. Airline distribution to many of the visitors to the north was a selling point for  the popular magazine. Looked at on the bright side, however, the end of the relationship will free up some back-page real estate -- since every issue had an OBC Canadian North ad as part of the deal.

It's not clear what Up Here will do now, though they are exploring airport distribution, thereby getting access to customers on the ground rather than in the air. There are also some other airlines in the north, such as First Air, which publishes its own in-flight magazine called Above & Beyond. (Like Canadian North, First Air is also predominantly aboriginal-owned.)

Sources say Canadian North was said to be annoyed about some reporting in the companion business magazine, Up Here Business; but when  interviewed by the CBC, they said the change was being made because they felt they could best represent their own brand needs with their own magazine.