Aviation and travel have come a long way since 1952, when the very first in-flight magazine was launched by Pan American World Airways. Each year now, around 4 billion people fly, and most of these passengers read the in-flight magazine at some point during their flight.
For experienced freelance writers, it is a great achievement to be published in one of these in-flight magazines. In terms of circulation and readership, there is incredible exposure, and many in-flight publications are among the highest-paying magazine markets. Of course, they also look quite impressive when added to your portfolio of published clips!
Here are three things that you may not realize about writing for in-flight magazines.
1. In-flight magazines have a captive audience. The passengers aren't going anywhere. Well, actually they are, but they are also a captive audience for the duration of the flight. Most passengers (around 80%) pick up the in-flight magazine for a quick read at some point during their flight.
2. There is more to in-flight publications than travel articles. They publish a diverse range of content that includes general interest pieces as well as business, health, lifestyle, and entertainment.
3. The travel industry is continuing to grow. The number of air passengers each year is expected to nearly double from 3.8 billion in 2016 to 7.2 billion in 2035. This is a growing industry which makes it an excellent time for freelancers to work with in-flight magazines.
To discover 250+ in-flight magazines from around the world, check out the latest edition (January 2020) of The In-Flight Magazines Report.
