October 8 2004

Magazine publisher flying high with American move

Magazine publishing group Ink is going trans-Atlantic as it becomes the world's biggest publisher of inflight magazines.

The London based group has secured its first contract in North America by being appointed to publish the inflight magazine of AirTran Airways.

AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines--operating over 500 flights a day to more than 40 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport by passenger volume, where it is the second largest carrier.

The latest addition to Ink's portfolio comes as the company opens its brand new office in New York.

Ink already publishes more than a dozen European magazines and journals including inflight magazines for easyJet, British Airways, MyTravel, Virgin Express and VLM Airlines, as well as the magazine for Summit Hotels and Resorts and Bradmans Business Travel Guides to Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.

The company's expansion into North America comes just weeks after the Ink group launched two of its own newsstand titles in the UK:

Allergy is the country's first magazine dedicated to the growing health phenomenon of allergies and intolerances suffered by one in three people in the UK. Originally available on subscription and from health centres and GP surgeries, the magazine went on general sale in major supermarket chains and on newsstands last month. Allergy readership has recently exceeded 615,000. Further information and online subscriptions can be accessed www.allergymagazine.com.

It was followed by the arrival of European Business, a monthly magazine with a global circulation that focuses on the people behind the companies and institutions that affect the daily lives of Europeans. The print run for the first edition was 108,000 copies. Further information and online subscriptions can be accessed www.europeanbusiness.eu.com.

Chief Executive Jeffrey O'Rourke said: "The last few months have been very busy and very exciting for everyone here at Ink. Our two newsstand launches been well received by readers, retailers and advertisers, and we are delighted to be working with AirTran--one of America's most profitable and rapidly expanding airlines. We are firing on all cylinders and have great expectations for the Company."

Ink is one of the fastest growing magazine publishing groups in Europe, with turnover breaking through £10m per annum in the last year. Other clients include Fiat, Proctor & Gamble, Sony, Royal Bank of Scotland and Vodafone.