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| Synopsis: Buckle your seatbelts
-- it just might be a bumpy flight. A&E Network flies high with an all-new
real-life adventure series -- a behind the scenes look at the tension
and drama surrounding commercial airline travel. AIRLINE is based on the hit U.K. show of the same name which has consistently pulled in strong ratings during its six-year run on Britain's ITV Network. The A&E Network series focuses on Southwest Airlines, America's fourth largest carrier, which came up with the concept of low cost, no frills travel. The company, which has been in business for 32 years, carries 65 million passengers every year and, in an industry struggling to cope post 9/11, is still making a profit. Los Angeles International (LAX) is just one of the airports that is featured prominently in AIRLINE. Southwest operates 120 flights a day out of LAX, each carrying an average of 130 passengers -- a combination that is sure to provide plenty of trials and tribulations. AIRLINE focuses on the highs and lows of passengers who hop on board Southwest flights bound for destinations across the U.S. The program also follows the airline's staff and crew, from the high flying pilots through to the long suffering check in staff and supervisors who are often on the receiving end of angry customers' wrath. "We're thrilled to have this unprecedented partnership with Southwest Airlines. The many flights of Southwest Airlines offer the perfect vehicle for a multitude of compelling stories. The pilots, flight attendants, airport employees and others interact every day with hurried executives, crying children, weary travellers and heightened security," said DeBitetto. "It's a crazy way of life, and one that is extraordinarily interesting to watch." "We're delighted to be working with A&E and Southwest Airlines to make AIRLINE in the US. We're particularly pleased that we've been able to draw on a production team made up of both British and American talent to make the series," says Joe Houlihan, Co-Executive Producer, Granada. "AIRLINE has been a phenomenally successful series for ITV and we're sure American viewers will find the thrills and spills of life behind the scenes of this huge airline fascinating." "This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to showcase the customer service passion and vision of our Southwest employees as they serve our valued customers," said Colleen Barrett, Southwest Airlines' President and COO. "This is an exciting project that we believe will give an added dimension to our already strong brand in the airline industry." |
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