The parent company behind SkyMall magazine, a mainstay in the backs of seats on commercial flights, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
However, there is still hope for the iconic catalog because if a bankruptcy court grants approval, Xhibit Corp will be allowed to seek out a buyer for the catalog.
“We are extremely disappointed in this result and are hopeful that SkyMall and the iconic ‘SkyMall’ brand find a home to continue to operate as SkyMall has for the last 25 years,” said Scott Wiley, the company’s acting CEO.
The catalog first launched in 1989, eventually seeing 650 million passengers browsing the catalog each year, reports The Atlantic.
However, as technology has rapidly advanced, it has become less and less intriguing to travelers who now have tablets, smartphones, music players, e-readers, and other things to keep them busy while flying.
Passengers are no longer looking at SkyMall because they are bored, and it appears as if the catalog is a thing of the past.
Wiley added, “With the increased use of electronic devices on planes, fewer people browsed the SkyMall in-flight catalog.”
