BA defends ‘barking mad’ idea
British Airways is to launch a dedicated channel showing cute footage of cats and dogs to enhance the well-being of its long-haul customers.
The channel, called Paws & Relax, launches in September.
BA claims that, as well as being entertaining, footage of cats, kittens, dogs and puppies actually soothes and relaxes passengers.
It can also improve levels of concentration – good news for anyone needing to catch up with some work before touching down for an all-important business meeting.
BA in-flight entertainment manager, Richard D’Cruze, said: "It might sound barking, but there’s lots of research to suggest that watching pets can enhance overall wellbeing.
"We have sniffed out some fantastic content that is cute, comforting and sure to appeal to travellers of all ages."
BA points out that, in his book 59 Seconds, psychologist Richard Wiseman suggests that just watching a video of a cute animal can reduce heart rate and blood pressure in under a minute.
And a paper published by Hiroshima University titled Power of Kawaii (meaning the power of cute), showed that people who looked at pictures of puppies or kittens in their study had higher levels of concentration afterwards.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt