Runway Girl Network

What Runway Girl Network does

Runway Girl Network (RGN) is a privately held aviation news service operated by Kirby Media Group LLC, founded in 2014 by aviation journalist Mary Kirby. The publication delivers specialized editorial coverage of the airline passenger experience (PaxEx) market across four pillars — Safety, Comfort, Connectivity, and Services — with adjunct sustainability reporting under the 'Green Wing' column. Its product surface includes the RGN Premium subscription service ($49.99/month or $599.88/year), the PaxEx Podcast, a Press Release Hub for industry announcements, and editorial columns such as Nose to Tail (trip reports), Op-Ed, Green Wing, and IFE Film Review. The business also runs the 'Lean into Aviation' initiative, which champions women and diversity in the industry.

RGN operates a freemium B2B2C media model. A free weekly email newsletter and ad-supported website drive top-of-funnel awareness among aviation professionals and the traveling public; named advertisers include Boeing, ThinKom, Diehl Aviation, and RAVE Aerospace. RGN Premium converts readers in the investment community and aviation consulting segment seeking market intelligence and exclusive analysis. Distribution extends through X, Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, and Threads, alongside multimedia and event coverage from industry venues such as Aircraft Interiors Expo. The proprietary content archive spans 11,000+ Green Wing articles, 6,600+ Op-Eds, and 1,800+ podcast episodes.

Technically, RGN runs on a web-based content management and publishing platform with an email newsletter delivery system and a member portal for premium access; no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or proprietary technology stack components are disclosed. The company is headquartered in New Paris, Pennsylvania, operates with a team of approximately 8–9 people (founder, operations manager, and a bench of contributing editors and writers), and is privately held with no institutional funding or external ownership stakes evidenced. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Runway Girl Network

Legal name

Kirby Media Group LLC

Website

https://runwaygirlnetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Runway Girl Network is a privately held aviation news service specializing in airline passenger experience (PaxEx) coverage, operating a freemium model with a paid RGN Premium subscription, advertising, the PaxEx Podcast, and a Press Release Hub serving investors, consultants, and industry stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Premium Subscription Revenue: Monthly and annual subscription model providing market intelligence, exclusive news reports, and tailored content for investment community and PaxEx sector professionals
2. Advertising Revenue: Direct advertising sales to aviation industry companies including Boeing, ThinKom, Diehl Aviation, RAVE Aerospace, and other aerospace and aviation technology providers
3. Free Newsletter: Weekly newsletter providing top stories and occasional news, serving as a free tier acquisition channel

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Runway Girl Network is an aviation news service providing daily editorial coverage, podcasts, opinion columns, and a paid premium subscription tier focused on airline passenger experience (PaxEx). The core offering combines free ad-supported news across Safety, Comfort, Connectivity, and Services categories with RGN Premium, a paid intelligence product delivering exclusive analysis and market reports to aviation professionals, investors, and consultants.

Product overview

Runway Girl Network is an award-winning aviation news publication operated by Kirby Media Group LLC. The company operates a B2B2C media model combining deep industry intelligence with passenger experience coverage. The core product portfolio includes RGN Premium (a subscription-based market intelligence service at $49.99/month or $599.88/year), the PaxEx Podcast (multimedia content), a Press Release Hub for industry announcements, and editorial content across multiple columns and news categories covering Safety, Comfort, Connectivity, Services, and sustainability. The Lean into Aviation initiative focuses on women in aviation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PaxEx Podcast: Podcast tracking the evolution of airline passenger experience and aviation sustainability initiatives.

Products and services

• RGN Premium Paid subscription content service providing market intelligence, exclusive news reports, and tailored analysis for the investment community, aviation consultants, and airline passenger experience (PaxEx) professionals.
• PaxEx Podcast Audio podcast covering airline passenger experience evolution and aviation sustainability initiatives, featuring interviews with industry executives and experts, with transcripts available.
• Press Release Hub Online hub allowing aviation industry companies to publish and distribute corporate press releases and announcements to the RGN audience.
• RGN News Coverage Free editorial news coverage across four core categories — Passenger Safety, Comfort, Connectivity, and Services — plus sustainability-focused Green Wing column.
• Lean into Aviation Editorial initiative and platform celebrating achievements of women in aviation, promoting equality, diversity, and culture within the aviation industry.
• RGN Email Newsletter Free weekly newsletter delivering top aviation news stories and occasional updates to opt-in subscribers, serving as a top-of-funnel acquisition channel for the RGN Premium subscription.
• RGN Multimedia Content Video features, interviews, and event coverage from aviation industry events including Aircraft Interiors Expo, distributed alongside podcast and written editorial content.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kirby Media Group LLCcoreOthersParent company operating Runway Girl Network. Founded by Mary Kirby, operator of the Runway Girl Network website providing aviation news services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Flightglobal: Major aviation industry news and data service, part of DVV Media. Direct competitor for aviation professional readership; notably Mary Kirby's former employer (Flightglobal/Flight International lineage), making it the closest comparable.
• Aircraft Interiors International: Informa-published trade title covering aircraft cabin interiors, IFEC, and seating — the same PaxEx sub-vertical as Runway Girl Network. Strongly comparable in subject-matter focus on passenger experience and connectivity.
• The Air Current: Subscription-based aviation industry news and analysis publication. Strongly comparable as a focused, premium, B2B aviation news outlet targeting industry professionals and investors.
• AeroTime: Aviation news platform covering airlines, industry, and aerospace. Comparable as digital-first aviation news outlet serving both professionals and enthusiast audiences.
• Aviation Week: Flagship subscription-based aviation industry intelligence title (Informa). Closest direct peer for B2B aviation news + premium subscription + event model.
• Leeham News and Analysis: Subscription-supported aviation analysis publication covering aircraft programs, airlines, and OEMs. Comparable in paid-newsletter model and B2B aviation intelligence positioning.
• Simple Flying: Large digital aviation news site covering commercial airlines and passenger experience topics. Comparable in editorial focus on airline passenger experience (PaxEx) and global aviation news.

Broad incumbents

• Skift: Travel industry intelligence publication with a subscription/Research model covering aviation, hospitality, and the broader travel sector. Comparable in subscription-based B2B media model, though operating across travel rather than aviation only.
• Travel Weekly: Established B2B travel industry news outlet (Northstar Travel Group). Comparable in serving a professional travel/aviation audience with editorial news and intelligence, though broader in scope.
• PhocusWire: Travel industry digital publication tied to Phocuswright research. Comparable in B2B news + intelligence + subscription hybrid model for travel/aviation professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RunwayGirl
• Facebookfacebook.com/RunwayGal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/runway-girl-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Runway Girl Network