Transferring in style
IN February, some Delta passengers who were rushing to make their connecting flight at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) were pleased to find a Porsche 911 GT3 RS revving and waiting to ferry them to their connecting flight. Kitted with a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six producing 518 horses, passengers were not only assured of getting to their next flight quickly but also in style.

This wasn’t the first time Delta utilised one of Porsche’s performance machines to shuttle passengers between its jets at some of its hubs. Last August, Porsche loaned a 918 Spyder to the US airline for a two-week period to transfer customers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

For jet setters

For over a decade, Delta and Porsche have made gate-to-gate transfers a lavish experience for its high-value customers. The service, which is reserved exclusively for elite flyers, is available at some of the airline’s hubs such as LAX, ATL and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

The service, according to Delta, was crafted as part of its mission to offer memorable, premium experiences for its elite customers. Although typically using a more practical mode of transport like a Porsche Cayenne, occasionally passengers will gain the opportunity to be chauffeured to their connecting flight in a rare set of wheels like the 911 and 918 Spyder.

More than just a cool marketing gimmick, airlines and luxury car makers may have found a perfect platform to offer a ‘taster’ of its new models to a captive, coveted audience. It’s a notion that hasn’t escaped other airlines and car brands either. In October 2022, United Airlines and Jaguar inked a partnership for a new ground transfer programme.

Reserved for the airline’s Select MileagePlus Premier members, the service affords passengers to make their connecting flights in style with complimentary rides in the new all-electric Jaguar I-PACE HSE at United hubs across the US.

Premium service

On local soil, travellers can also enjoy an exclusive private terminal transfer service at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), thanks to Malaysia Airlines and BMW.

Available since February, the transfer service was launched in collaboration with BMW Group Malaysia through dealer partner, Ingress Auto Sdn Bhd. It could not have come at a better time with the airport’s aerotrain currently suspended.

Offered exclusively to Enrich Platinum, Business Suite and Business Class passengers, the 24-hour service offers a sustainable and premium travel option reserved exclusively for Malaysia Airlines’ passengers.

The airlines’ elite passengers can now travel in premium comfort between the Main Terminal Building and the Satellite Building of KLIA Terminal 1 in an all-electric BMWi7.

“With this exclusive service, we aim to enhance the travel experience for our top-tier customers, ensuring that they can enjoy premium comfort as part of their end-to-end journey with us,” explained Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi, chief executive officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG).

During the initial phase, a fleet of BMW i7 vehicles is deployed to serve departing passengers with the pick-up point located at Gate G1 of the Main Terminal Building. The airline will also be deploying additional units to serve arriving passengers in the near future, following the completion of the arrival lounge at the airport’s Satellite Building.

This article first appeared in Star Biz7 weekly edition.
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To further enhance the brand experience, airlines are partnering with automotive brands to offer luxury ground transfers.