Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1981

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Communication

Major Professor

Paul G. Ashdown

Committee Members

George Everett

Abstract

This study examines the editorial policies, formats, formulas, advertising, and audiences of airline in-flight magazines for U.S. certificated carriers.

Data were gathered through a mail survey conducted in the spring of 1981. The questionnaire was mailed to the editors of 23 in-flight magazines and to 21 airline officials. Twenty editors and 13 airline officials completed questionnaires, representing all of the magazines.

Of the 23 magazines, nine began publishing in the 1960s, 12 appeared in the 1970s, and two appeared in 1981. The magazines range in average size from 40 pages to 144 pages. The average advertising volume is 52.05 percent.

The magazines entertain frequent business passengers, who are mostly well-educated, affluent men. The magazines are general-interest publications in which business, sports, finance, travel, lifestyles, and personal profiles are common subjects. Travel articles have become less common.

An in-flight magazine reflects the corporate image of an airlines, and in turn, usually has little interest in controversial articles. Three-fourths of the editors and all but one of the officials call their magazines external company publications for the airlines.

Editors and officials perceive high readership, but said little about the audience's actual acceptance of and involvement with the magazines.

The in-flight magazine industry is a freelancer's market. But good writers must know an in-flight magazine well before getting material published because each has its own content preferences.

Eight of the 23 magazines have been affected by rising fuel costs. Airlines limit the number of copies placed on a plane, use a lighter weight paper stock, or even limit the number of pages.

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