TIDMVELA
RNS Number : 8929Y
Vela Technologies PLC
11 December 2017
11 December 2017
Vela Technologies plc
("Vela" or the "Company")
Update on investment in Portr Limited
AirPortr Limited launches new service with American Airlines
The Board of Vela (AIM: VELA), the investing company focused on
early-stage and pre-IPO disruptive technology investments, notes
the recent press coverage regarding Portr Limited, trading as
Airportr ("AirPortr"), the London based travel technology start-up,
which has partnered with American Airlines to allow check-in of
luggage for its flights from London. This follows the partnership
previously announced with British Airways.
Vela has an interest in 125,619 shares in AirPortr, equivalent
to 3.7 per cent. of AirPortr's issued share capital.
Commenting on the news, Antony Laiker, Executive Director of the
Company, said:
"American Airlines is following British Airways in endorsing the
Airportr service enabling passengers to check-in away from the
airport and benefit from a stress free experience through to the
carousel at their destination. Customer feedback has been very
positive with a high level of repeat use by satisfied customers.
Following the recent investment by Stobart in Airportr, we look
forward to seeing how Airportr's urban ground handling activities
develop further."
Excerpts from AirPortr's press release are copied below:
"Passengers can now check in their luggage from any London
address for up to 300 American Airlines and British Airways flights
per day.
-- AirPortr's mobile luggage check-in and delivery services now
available on all American Airlines flights to the US departing
London Heathrow.
-- Service, described as "the best travel money ever spent",
available on select American Airlines flights.
-- Partnership to accelerate growth for London start-up
AirPortr, having delivered over 50,000 bags in 12 months since
launch.
-- New service development allows instant excess luggage
payments by the customer through the AirPortr driver app on
doorstep.
AirPortr, the London-based city luggage check-in and delivery
service is now available to customers flying from London Heathrow
to the United States on American Airlines, the world's largest
airline.
The new partnership invites customers flying on any of American
Airlines' 20 daily flights from London Heathrow to the U.S. to have
their luggage securely checked-in from any London address, removing
the stresses of transporting their bags across the Capital and
checking-in at the airport.
Described by customers as "a life saver" and "the best travel
money ever spent" AirPortr allows travellers to get to the airport
more easily by public transport, reduces airport check-in times and
creates a simpler, stress-free travel experience.
AirPortr CEO Randel Darby said: "Partnering with the world's
largest airline, American Airlines, means we can serve more
customers and takes us one step further in establishing mobile
luggage check-in as a new standard in the air travel
experience.
"American Airlines opens our service up to more passengers
travelling from London to the United States and helps us better
serve customers booking with American's transatlantic joint
business partner British Airways."
Simpler journeys for more quality time
American Airlines passengers flying into Heathrow can also have
their luggage delivered to and from their central London hotels,
allowing them to enjoy more luggage-free time to enjoy the city
regardless of their check-out or flight times.
Thanks to an upgrade to the digital experience, customers can
now instantly approve any excess luggage charges for overweight
baggage via the AirPortr service on their doorstep.
Randel Darby added: "With more than 50,000 bags safely and
securely delivered, AirPortr has been truly embraced by Londoners.
From families juggling oversized luggage and leisure travellers
flying with sports equipment, to young professionals not wanting to
be that person with luggage during rush-hour, we've struck a chord
with people wanting to take the hassle out of getting their bags to
and through the airport."
Delivering expansion
Having launched with British Airways in October 2016, and
recently attracting GBP2 million investment from The Stobart Group,
AirPortr is the first mobile luggage check-in service in the world
to be integrated into airline booking systems.
Also available to all British Airways customers flying from
Heathrow and Gatwick, AirPortr is now available for 300 outbound
flights per day with luggage check-in and deliveries starting at
GBP30 per item for the first item and GBP10 thereafter.
AirPortr's services were developed in consultation with the
Civil Aviation Authority and the Transport Security Administration
in the US to ensure all processes meet aviation security
regulations to give travellers peace of mind at every step of the
journey.
Using AirPortr
American Airlines customers can book a one-hour collection slot
through AA.com via airportr.com or with AirPortr's UK call centre
up to seven hours in advance of their flight from London Heathrow
to the United States*.
An AirPortr driver will collect and weigh passenger's bags at
the chosen time and scan and check passports and boarding passes.
Luggage is then sealed in coded, tamper-proof cases.
Luggage is then screened according to CAA security standards and
delivered to the airline for further screening and customers are
sent IATA bag receipts around 90 minutes before take-off.
Passengers then collect their bags from the baggage reclaim at
their destination airport.
For more information about AirPortr visit airportr.com.
*The Bag Check-In service is only available on outbound flights
from London Heathrow to the U.S. This service is not currently
available for pick-up in the USA."
For further information, please contact:
Vela Technologies plc
Brent Fitzpatrick, Non-Executive
Chairman Tel: +44 (0) 7802
Antony Laiker, Director 262 443
Allenby Capital Limited
(Nominated Adviser)
Nick Athanas/Katrina Perez/Asha Tel: +44 (0) 20
Chotai 3328 5656
Smaller Company Capital Limited
(Broker)
Rupert Williams/Jeremy Woodgate Tel: +44 (0) 20
3651 2910
About AirPortr:
Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Randel Darby, AirPortr is
pioneering flexible and efficient luggage transportation for
airline passengers.
AirPortr is the world's first mobile luggage check-in and
delivery service that is integrated in airline booking systems. The
service was successfully launched in 2016 in partnership with
British Airways and is currently available for British Airways and
American Airlines customers travelling via Heathrow and Gatwick
airports in London.
AirPortr expects several more airlines to be added to the
platform over the coming year in response to inbound interest and
increasing demand for alternative mobile luggage check-in
solutions.
AirPortr customers can check-in their luggage from home, at the
office or in their hotel lobby from the day before travel up to
seven hours before flight departure, choosing a one-hour collection
slot.
AirPortr drivers are strictly vetted to aviation standards and
use the company's mobile technology to reconcile customer
identification documents and baggage with airline systems as part
of its secure process for check-in and delivery to the airline.
AirPortr's services were developed following consultation with
the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport and
working with established and trusted partner airlines to ensure the
service is compliant with strict aviation security regulations. All
bags are sealed with tamper-aware technology upon collection and
vehicles remain locked at all times.
For more information go to airportr.com.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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