Long Beach | September 26, 2017
#APEXEXPO | APEX.AERO | @THEAPEXASSOC | APEX.AERO/NEWSLETTER
Official Airline Ratings Results Revealed Read more on page 30
EDUCATION DAY
Gogo’s Vision for Seatback IFE
Say Allo to SkyLights’ New IFE Headset
Keynotes: JetBlue, Emirates, Netflix...
Insights From Education Day
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Rated and Verified: APEX Measures Success
APEX EXPO in Long Beach officially kicked off with APEX CEO Joe Leader highlighting some of the association’s recent achievements. After strongly coming out against the in-flight electronics ban announced in March, Leader underlined APEX’s initiatives toward a solution. “We’ve been personally thanked by airlines, other associations and government officials in making sure that passengers get to enjoy every bit of property they expect and deserve to have on board,” Leader said. Since last year’s launch of Official Airline Ratings, in partnership with TripIt by Concur, the program has captured data from hundreds of airlines worldwide on over 500,000 verified and rated flights. APEX leveraged the data that was submitted by passengers on the TripIt app to create an overall airline ranking. Airlines rated four and five stars were honored at the APEX Awards yesterday evening. EXPO DAILY experience
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LET’S BRING E N T E R TA I N M E N T FROM THE COUCH T O T H E C A B IN. :HɋUH *RJR WKH LQʗLJKW LQWHUQHW FRPSDQ\ )URP ZDWFKLQJ OLYH VSRUWV ZKLOH WH[WLQJ WR VWUHDPLQJ WKHLU IDYRULWH VKRZV ZKLOH ZRUNLQJ *RJR .X GHOLYHUV WKH VDPH FRQQHFWHG PXOWL GHYLFH H[SHULHQFH \RXU SDVVHQJHUV H[SHFW RQ WKH JURXQG Visit us at booth #502 or learn more at gogoair.com.
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EDUCATION DAY: Robin Hayes, President and CEO, JetBlue
In Mint Condition: JetBlue CEO Reflects on the Road to Premium PaxEx American low-cost carrier JetBlue was born in 2000 out of the concept of equality – its identity was inextricably linked to the absence of a premium product offering, explained the airline’s CEO and president, Robin Hayes. “Jetblue was founded with a very clear concept of treating everyone well,” he said. “The seed was set for an airline that wasn’t ever going to have a premium experience.” Yet, fourteen years later, JetBlue is well known for its Mint premium travel experience, which includes some of the longest lie-flat beds in the transcontinental market, a tapas-style dining service and complimentary in-flight connectivity. The premium product came in response to JetBlue’s 20 percent revenue deficit in the transcontinental market, which Hayes attributes to the carrier’s inability to reach a customer segment willing to pay extra for a better product. With Mint, these travelers could enjoy a premium experience at lower price point compared to that offered by legacy rivals. “Not only had we fixed our transcon problem; we had turned transcon into a profit driver for the company,” Hayes said.
“Not only had we fixed our transcon problem; we had turned transcon into a profit driver for the company.” ROBIN HAYES, JETBLUE
But Mint wasn’t met without resistance from airline leaders, board members and crewmembers – many who believed all passengers should be treated the same. “Now we were saying, ‘Actually, we are going to treat this group of customers differently,” Hayes said. The leadership was tasked with ensuring that crewmembers could put their heart and soul behind the product – after all, “they
are the product,” Hayes said. Today, crewmember service in the Mint cabin is the feature that resonates most with passengers, Hayes reveals. When Mint launched, it was offered on 11 airplanes, and by the end of 2017, it will have 31. But it won’t end there, Hayes said: “There is such a head of steam building around this product that I don’t think we are going to end with 31 airplanes.” EXPO DAILY experience
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EDUCATION DAY: Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates, With BBC Presenter Ben Richardson
Sir Tim Clark’s Forecast: Biometrics and Windowless Airplanes The incredible pace of technological change, coupled with the rapid rise of new trends, might concern some in the airline industry, but certainly not Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates. “This revolution is the most wonderful thing – you shouldn’t be scared of it,” said Clark during his question-andanswer keynote address with BBC presenter Ben Richardson. “If you wait too long, others will get there in front of you,” he added. Clark has led Emirates for over 30 years, and while the airline has grown to a worldspanning mega-carrier, it has maintained its focus on a high standard of passenger experience. “We have this ethos that the enhancement to the passenger product – whether in tech areas or in the cabin – must still continue,” he said. 8
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Clark believes new tech will influence the very structure of the airplanes we’ll be flying in the future, dramatically altering the passenger experience. “We will have windowless airplanes; we’ll have fuselages that are completely composite with no windows at all.” He explained that virtual windows will be fed by cameras located all over the airframe, enabling passengers to control what they’d like to see. Without windows, he expects airplanes will fly higher and faster. Clark also predicts technology will improve the current state of airports. “The airports of today, with rare exceptions, are really not up to standard at all.” He believes that advancements in biometrics will help deal with the
“If you wait too long, others will get there in front of you.” SIR TIM CLARK, EMIRATES
touchpoints that frustrate passengers, from check-in and security to the shopping experience, so when travelers walk in, they’ll drop their bags and just keep walking. “These things are going to come, and people are going to be shocked and stunned, but we have to be ready and brave enough to take those decisions,” he said. Sir Tim Clark was presented a CEO Lifetime Achievement Award at last night’s APEX Awards.
Beyond purchase there’s much more to inflight Wi-Fi. From advanced e-commerce to premium entertainment, and from targeted advertising to personalized promotions, reliable connectivity unlocks new revenue opportunities. The connected cabin is at the forefront of digital transformation. Consistent, high-speed broadband creates the platform to launch service innovations that drive value and increase margins, combined with the analytics you need to measure success. To make the most of these revenue opportunities, you need a connectivity solution tailored to your specific needs. Come to Booth 553 to find out more.
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EDUCATION DAY: Spencer Wang, Vice-President Finance and Inverstor Relations, Netflix
Netflix Inflight 2.0: Bandwidth Savings and Playback Metrics Since announcing the arrival of Netflix on board Virgin America in 2015, Netflix has seen solid engagement in flight. Over the past two years, more partnerships have been made with Aeromexico, Qantas, Virgin Australia and others. Through these partnerships, Netflix has gathered insightful data including playback metrics, which led to the launch of a new service, Netflix Inflight 2.0. Early next year, Netflix will deploy new proprietary encodes to provide airlines with better video performance. “We’ll be able to monitor our video playback metrics to ensure [passengers] have the greatest experience on your flight,” said Spencer Wang, vice-president, Finance and Investor Relations at Netflix.
“By removing the fear about bandwidth costs, airlines will start actively promoting video streaming in flight.” SPENCER WANG, NETFLIX
Airlines need only provide Netflix with their IP ranges for upgraded fleets. Wang also added, “And by partnering with us this will result in significant bandwidth savings for carriers,” he said. “Instead of worrying about bandwidth, you can now support and promote certain in-flight services as a core part of your offering rather than sticking it on some kind of premium tier.” Wang says when consumers find out that an airline like Virgin bundles Netflix offers with free Wi-Fi, there’s an average 30 percent “uplift” in passenger loyalty. “By removing the fear about bandwidth costs, airlines will start actively promoting video streaming in flight so that we can please our mutual customers.” EXPO DAILY experience
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EDUCATION DAY: Mark Krolick, Vice-President, Marketing, United Airlines
United Talks About Polaris’ Holistic Branding United Airlines debuted its Polaris business class at the end of last year, as a holistic experience including a dedicated lounge, unique amenities and a new seat design, creating a luxury sub-brand within the “friendly skies.” Mark Krolick, United Airlines’ vicepresident of Marketing, explained the role that customers, crew and digital platforms played in designing and marketing the airline’s new branded Polaris experience. “We did more research and data analytics than we’ve ever done before, and we spoke to our flight attendants. It’s unbelievable how much knowledge our flight attendants have,” Krolick said. “There was as much research with our employees as there was with our customers.”
United turned to social media and digital platforms to complement traditional advertising, like TV spots. “We wanted a marketing mix that was right for the product,” he said. “Social media doesn’t replace any of the traditional marketing channels – it just makes them more powerful.” Using customer data to inform social media campaigns allowed the airline to better target advertising and evaluate feedback. “The intersection of big data and social media is really important,” Krolick said. “If you don’t have that, you have information on social media which might be irrelevant. Otherwise, you’re chasing your tail. Knowing who is saying what, and which data is most important to your company is critical.”
The airline also established a dedicated microsite that explains the product and gathers customer feedback. “The microsite is very transparent with our customers on how we’re doing with our product,” Krolick said.
“There was as much research with our employees as there was with our customers.” MARK KROLICK, UNITED
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ESTHER ROCKS IT HER WAY We’ve been tailoring the passenger experience since 1979. Our Companion App delivers hyper-personalization to your passengers, pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight.
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EDUCATION DAY: Dennis Tierney, VP of Membership and Customer Experience, oneworld
Oneworld Shifts Focus From Expansion to Customer Value Proposition
Founded in 1999, the oneworld Alliance is set to turn 20 years old next year. During his six years with the company, Dennis Tierney, VP of Membership and Customer Experience, has seen the alliance grow to 14 airline members and double in terms of available seat kilometres (ASKs). However, expansion isn’t oneworld’s top priority right now. There are still gaps in the network connectivity – Tierney says they’d love to have a home carrier in China and India to bring new markets to existing members – but their focus now is on the customer value proposition. This transition is being led by new CEO Rob Gurney, who joined at the end of last year, with digital technology as the enabler.
“We have not kept pace with what our airlines are doing, what our industry is doing.” DENNIS TIERNEY, ONEWORLD
For example, travelers can now access a database of oneworld lounges directly through an airline member’s website as well as the oneworld website. There’s still further to go, though. Oneworld used to be proud of a service which saw staff meet passengers with close or missed connections right after landing
to deal with them personally, Tierney says. But now, passengers are frustrated if they haven’t been updated on the situation while still on board the aircraft. Oneworld is approaching its member airlines directly for possible solutions to the problem, but Tierney says they’re not sure, because alliance-related bookings only account for approximately five percent of revenue. To address this, oneworld has created a new position – VP of Innovation and Digital Technology – which will help the company look at how to benefit the millennial traveler, which Tierney says wants to venture more and more off the beaten track. EXPO DAILY experience
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TRACK A: FUTURE CONNECTIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT ROADMAPS 2.0
Projections for the Future of In-Flight Connectivity MODERATOR
Joe Leader CEO, APEX PANELISTS
Ryan Stone President, SmartSky Networks Meherwan Polad Senior Director, Business Development, ViaSat Per Norén Senior Vice President Aviation, Global Eagle Greg Montevideo Senior Director, Connectivity Operations, Panasonic Avionics Corporation William Huot-Marchand Vice President, Global Sales, Thales InFlyt Experience David Coiley VP, Aviation, Inmarsat Anand Chari CTO, Gogo Jags Burhm Senior Vice President, Aero Global Mobility, Eutelsat
There’s little doubt that connectivity has become a key driver of passenger satisfaction. While the industry continues to make improvements to this seemingly essential service, connectivity providers are already gazing into the future, looking toward next-generation speeds and bandwidth. “For passengers to continue on the journey with us, we need technology that goes beyond what exists today,” said William Huot-Marchand, VP, Global Sales, Thales InFlyt Experience. “So we are partnering with SES and Hughes, and we’re launching GEN3 HTS. All of this is MEHERWAN POLAD, VIASAT to maximize the passenger satisfaction.” Meherwan Polad, senior director, Business Development, ViaSat said, “It’s not just about capacity, it’s about the economics of that capacity.” With
“It’s not just about capacity, it’s about the economics of that capacity.”
more than 30 years in the sector, ViaSat has recently launched 300-Gbps ViaSat2, with 1-Tbps ViaSat3 satellites to come. “When we talk about extending the experience from the ground into the air, it’s mostly just about the speeds, but getting it at affordable prices,” said Polad. Although the focus is on the link to the airplane, the return link off the airplane will be just as important, according to Ryan Stone, president, SmartSky Networks. “That’s the link for the Internet of Things or aircraft health monitoring or anything we need to get off the aircraft.” SmartSky’s new air-to-ground solution features a bidirectional link, using 30 Mhz of spectrum in each direction, with 20,000 spot beams covering the United States when its network launches.
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TRACK B: CREATING IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT ROI FOR AIRLINE PROFITS
Maximizing In-Flight Entertainment ROI for Passengers and Airlines MODERATOR
Walé Adepoju Executive Vice-President of Media and Content, Global Eagle PANELISTS
Max Coppin Partner Development Manager, Google Babar Rahman Head of In-Flight Entertainment/ Connectivity, Global Sponsorships and CSR, Qatar Airways David Sandberg Senior Advisor, Routehappy Andrea Whyte Director of Commercial Content Strategy, Spafax Anton Vidgen Creative Director, Air Canada
Delegates from Google, Qatar Airways, Routehappy, Spafax and Air Canada agree that more can be done to maximize ROI when it comes to in-flight entertainment (IFE). For starters, airlines can move away from traditional advertising as a main source of IFE revenue, and explore brand partnerships, Andrea Whyte, director of Commercial Content Strategy, Spafax, said. Max Coppin, partner development manager, Google, suggests airlines continue advertising on the seatback screen but rethink their approach to be more relevant to the customer. “We are all watching the same advertisements, at the same time,” he said, “but as the seatback gets smarter with connectivity, advertising will become much more beneficial.” ANDREA WHYTE, SPAFAX Data insights are key to measuring ROI, but it isn’t as easy as counting dollar signs, Anton Vidgen, creative director, Air Canada, said. In addition to measuring the number and length of views, airlines need to find ways to measure engagement qualitatively. “ROI requires a multiplatform approach,” he said.
“Many airlines put on great content but aren’t doing enough to promote it. They just leave it there.”
What the data does show, according to Whyte, is that early-window content remains the dominant form of IFE. That’s one of the reasons why “we shouldn’t just say, ‘let’s scrap it all and use Netflix,’” she said. Another is that viewers at home aren’t just committing to one stream of content either. No matter how diverse and comprehensive an airline’s content offering may be, promoting it is key, Whyte said. “Many airlines put on great content, but … they just leave it there.” David Sandberg, senior advisor, Routehappy, cites a similar issue with regards to the availability of services like in-flight connectivity (IFC), but the lack of information about them. However, promoting IFE and IFC isn’t enough. Airlines need to accept that the pay-for-access models for these are dying, Vidgen argues. When it comes to IFE, consumers aren’t buying specific pieces of content like they used to, and passengers have been conditioned to feel like IFE should be free, he said: “Just like water at the restaurant or a bread service.”
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TRACK C: AIRCRAFT INTERIORS TO MAXIMIZE AIRLINE PROFITS
Airlines Vie to Be Seen in a Good Light MODERATOR
Maryann Simson Director, APEX Media PANELISTS
Stefan List Head of Product Marketing, Cabin Program, Airbus Brian Richardson Director, Aircraft Interiors, IFEC, American Airlines Caroline Jatob Director of Research and Development, Air Austral Rachelle Ornan Regional Director, Experience and Design Research Strategy, The Boeing Company
When it comes to cabin interiors, Rachelle Ornan, regional director of Experience and Design Research Strategy at Boeing, believes the biggest potential change to aircraft interiors will come from changing where passengers put carry-on bags. She claimed the removal of overhead bins would allow for more innovation with projection lighting, which has the potential to change “not just colours, but frame of mind.” The panel agreed lighting is a positive force when it comes to maximising airline profits. Brian Richardson, American Airlines’ director of Aircraft Interiors, RACHELLE ORNAN, BOEING In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity, said while it’s difficult to quantify the ROI of mood lighting, the investment seems inexpensive compared to the gain. However, rather than advocating the removal of overhead bins, Richardson said it’s more realistic to
“If you could do away with bins, it would be beautiful.”
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focus on upgrades. “Rather than ripping up an interior and starting from scratch, we can get better products by upgrading them gradually,” he said. A case in point was provided by Caroline Jatob, director of Research and Development at Air Austral, whose Extra Couchette product in economy-class functions much like Air New Zealand’s Skycouch. It seems OEMs are continuing to explore modularity with interest, but high-density layouts are a more pressing issue for carriers today. Both Airbus and Boeing confirmed airlines were approaching them asking for seating with a 27-inch pitch, but didn’t agree on how best to address high-density layouts. Stefan List, head of Product Marketing, Cabin Program, at Airbus, argued the relationship between the width and pitch of the seat is important in terms of perceived comfort levels. Ornan said Boeing no longer considers those parameters, instead focusing on the visual perception of passengers.
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TRACK D: Who Wants to Be Master of Regulatory Compliance?
Airlines Need to Monitor Food Compliance to Pre-Clear MODERATOR
Robin Swenson Moore Delta Charter Catering Manager, Delta Air Lines PANELISTS
Dean Davidson IFSA Food Safety Consultant; retired FDA Interstate Commerce Amber Drown Agriculture Operations Manager, Preclearance Field Office, Customs Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Bruce Kummer Interstate Travel Program Manager, FDA Ed Matovcik President, Intervine
Non-compliance with regulations by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the import of select food items may affect an airline’s US Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Preclearance program approval. Airlines flying to the US need to ensure that meats, poultry and eggs to be served on board are sourced from vendors who are in compliance with USDA 9 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Food Safety and Inspection Service. Chicken and eggs, which are AMBER DROWN, CBP, US DHS fully cooked and served on board are exempt, as are cured meats. Airlines requesting specific goods from their catering suppliers should ensure that the goods they have selected comply with the USDA’s requirements. “The ultimate consequence is that you may lose
“The ultimate consequence is that you may lose rights to pre-clear until you were in compliance.”
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rights to pre-clear until you were in compliance,” said Amber Drown, Preclearance Field Office, CBP, US DHS explained. Drown recommended that airlines and their catering suppliers direct questions about compliance to the USDA office, and made it clear that the CBP was ready to help with additional guidance where needed. IFSA also maintains an open FAQ on its website to serve as a guide for members. Varied regulations on allergens were also discussed. All airline packaged food items must be labeled for allergens, including buy-on-board meals. Dean Davidson, IFSA Food Safety consultant, formerly of the US FDA, explained, “A lot of it is prepackaged so you have to verify with the supplier that they are putting the allergen information on the package or that the allergen information is in the agreement.” Davidson added that discussions were ongoing on harmonization with European allergen categories.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached our cruising altitude, so we invite you to turn on your portable electronic devices, use our cabin Wi-Fi service and otherwise make yourself comfortable.
I’m the Circuit Breaker, here to interrupt your steady stream of power, give your airline’s maintenance department fits and make your passengers very, very unhappy!
At last! The music will put him to sleep, and we’ll both feel better after a nap!
You monster… Waking a sleeping child!??
Perfect! Gotta recharge my computer to check in on the new financial updates.
You can’t do this to me! I need those figures!
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BOOTH 502
BOOTH 919
Gogo to Launch Gogo Vision Touch on Delta Air Lines
Gogo is launching a new wireless streaming entertainment solution for seatback-mounted devices. Gogo Vision Touch will launch on Delta Air Lines’ Bombardier CS100 deliveries in 2018. “The difference between our particular product and the traditional embedded IFE systems is that we will be streaming the content wirelessly to those displays via our in-cabin network,” said Scott Ralston, vicepresident of Product Management, Gogo. Airlines, Gogo contends, are moving away from seatback screens because they are heavy, expensive and obsolete the moment they are installed on board. Gogo Vision Touch will allow for easy
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and inexpensive repairs and replacements. “Many of the IFE systems out there have components of consumerbased products from a software to hardware perspective. This is truly the first consumer-based display.” Ralston said. The new solution is also software centric, enabling airlines to push upgrades similar to the way they are received on phones and tablets. “Ultimately Gogo’s goal is to connect every aircraft and every device to the Internet. We see the seatback displays as just another device within that environment. And so for us, it’s kind of a natural extension to deliver connectivity and the Internet to those displays.”
Global Eagle Signs Worldwide Content Distribution Agreement With Time Inc. Global Eagle has secured a worldwide distribution agreement with Time Inc. to bring programming under the newly created “TIME Flies” brand to airline, cruise and maritime markets. The first shows featured in Global Eagle’s content portfolio as part of the agreement will be TIME’s 100 Photos: The Most Influential Images of All Time and A Year In Space, an Emmynominated short-form nonfiction series documenting NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s time aboard the International Space Station. TIME’s 100 Photos series is a collection of films that tell the stories behind the most influential photographs ever taken, according to a team of curators, historians and photo editors. The films feature subjects such as Harry Benson’s 1964 shot of the Beatles’ pillow fight and Abraham Zapruder’s images of John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. “TIME Flies will be a great addition to Global Eagle’s Content-To-Go platform, allowing passengers to enjoy this amazing content throughout their entire travel journey,” Alexis Steinman, Global Eagle’s senior vice-president of Digital Media Solutions, said.
BOOTH 566
SkyLights Unveils New Headset and Slew of Airline and Content Partnerships SkyLights has unveiled its second-generation
headset is also 60 percent lighter than the first
immersive cinema headset AlloSky, which
generation and can be connected to an in-seat
comes with fresh content from Warner
power source. “We have identified what
Brothers, National Geographic, Lionsgate and
matters most and have kept this knowledge at
BBC. Airline launch partners for the in-flight
the core of the second-generation solution,”
entertainment solution include Air France,
David Dicko, CEO of SkyLights, said.
Joon, Corsair and Jetfly.
Dicko says SkyLights is looking into
AlloSky, which was created in partnership
tethering the headsets and storing them in the
with immersive cinema eyewear company
seats, instead of trolleys, to eliminate the need
Allomind, will show 2-D, 3-D and 180-degree
for distribution by cabin crew. The solution
video content, as its predecessor Bravo
would require modification to supplemental
Theater did, with the addition of 1080p image
type certificates, but Dicko expects approval
Air France’s Boeing 777s and Joon’s Airbus
resolution and dioptric correction. The new
by the second quarter of 2018.
A340s will be the first aircraft to receive AlloSky. According to Dicko, Air France’s
“[Joon] wants to be an innovation springboard for Air France; it wants to move fast and propose a premium high-tech service to passengers. So the brand fit is particularly good.”
new millennial-targeted airline, Joon, is a great platform for AlloSky: “It wants to be an innovation springboard for Air France; it wants to move fast and propose a premium hightech service to passengers. So the brand fit is particularly good.”
DAVID DICKO, SKYLIGHTS
BOOTH 629
Airbus to Unveil A320 Airspace Cabin Mock-Up Airbus is unveiling an interior mock-up of the Airspace cabin for its A320 family aircraft at APEX EXPO in Long Beach. The full-scale replica shows the cabin’s increased interior width and includes a welcome area, overhead bins, full-color LED lighting system and a new lavatory design. Using Samsung virtual reality headsets, Airbus is also showing the Airspace cabin experience on the A320neo, A330neo, A350 XWB and A380 aircraft models. 28
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Introducing the 2017 APEX Awards Winners
The PaxEx industry’s best innovations and initiatives were recognized last night at the APEX Awards, hosted by Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy, at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. Here are the winners.
Official Airline Ratings The results of the first Official Airline Ratings are in. APEX partnered with TripIt from Concur, the world’s highestrated travel-organizing app, to gather anonymous passenger feedback based on verified travel itineraries. Using a five-star scale, more than 500,000 flights were rated by passengers from around the world between 24 October 2016 and 31 July 2017.
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FIVE-STAR WINNERS Global Aeroflot Air New Zealand All Nippon Airways Asiana Airlines Austrian Airlines Cathay Pacific China Airlines Delta Air Lines Emirates Etihad Airways EVA Air
Garuda Indonesia Japan Airlines Korean Air LATAM Airlines Group Lufthansa Qantas Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines Swiss International Airlines Turkish Airlines Virgin Atlantic
Major Regional Air Astana Alaska Airlines Avianca Bangkok Airways Caribbean Airlines Hawaiian Airlines Icelandair Middle East Airlines Virgin Australia
Low-Cost JetBlue Southwest Airlines Virgin America WestJet
PASSENGER CHOICE AWARDS
FOUR-STAR WINNERS Global Aeromexico Air Canada Air France American Airlines British Airways Finnair KLM Scandinavian Airlines Saudi Arabian Airlines South African Airways TAP Portugal Thai Airways United Airlines Vietnam Airlines Major Regional Air Tahiti Nui Brussels Airlines Fiji Airways Hainan Airlines Hong Kong Airlines Jet Airways Luxair Malindo Air Oman Air Royal Jordanian S7 Airlines SriLankan Airlines Low-Cost AirAsia Eurowings Interjet Jeju Air Norwegian Air International Scoot SpiceJet Wizz Air
BEST SEAT COMFORT Virgin America
BEST CABIN SERVICE Qatar Airways
BEST FOOD AND BEVERAGE Qatar Airways
BEST ENTERTAINMENT Emirates
BEST WI-FI JetBlue
Get the TripIt app to make your airline rating count: > TRIPIT.COM EXPO DAILY experience
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APEX Awards Nearly 30 APEX members determined the top three finalists in each of the APEX Awards’ eight categories. A panel of industry media experts voted on the winner of each category in a final round of judging. BEST ORIGINAL AUDIO
BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO
Air New Zealand Audio: enhancing the passenger experience Air New Zealand
Emirates Product Video Emirates
Kiwi superstar Lorde’s latest album, Melodrama, was available on board Air New Zealand’s fleet on the same day of its worldwide release – up to six weeks ahead of other airlines – an achievement made possible with the help of Universal Music Group, Panasonic and Global Eagle. Cabin crew celebrated the album launch by dancing down the aircraft aisles to the singersongwriter’s biggest hit, “Green Light,” adding some social media buzz to the event.
Emirates presents a fresh take on the promotional airline videos used to inform passengers about the features of their flight, minimize cabin crew announcements and reinforce brand values. Created by Spitfire Productions, with music by DJ and production duo Hollaphonic, the video shows the Emirates experience in multiple parts, features a famous actor and uses CGI to create a world that blends abstract animations and the familiarity of a human face.
BEST VIDEO CURATION VA IFE: catering for big expectations and diverse appetites Virgin Australia Driven to stay competitive against the landscape of streaming services, Virgin Australia pushed the boundaries of traditional movie and TV show offerings by sourcing short films, educational content and music videos from reputable Australian schools, film festivals and competitions. Additionally, the carrier curated a collection of Marvel films and behind-the-scenes content to conicide with the Gallery of Modern Art’s (QAGOMA) exhibition on the cinematic universe of Marvel comic book characters.
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BEST CABIN INNOVATION ReTrolley Airbus Operations To make recycling a simpler, swifter process on board, Airbus Operations has come up with a recycling trolley that enables flight crew to presort cabin waste in the aisle and reduce waste volume by 30 percent. The trolley has two compartments, one for recyclables and one for non-recyclables, both of which can be compressed by pushing on the trolley handle. Custom modules for stacking plastic cups, collecting liquid waste and crushing aluminum cans can also be added to the trolley.
Read more about the award winners at > APEX.AERO/ AWARDS2017
BEST PASSENGER COMFORT INNOVATION Airspace Single Aisle Interior Airbus Following the four pillars of the Airspace cabin interior DNA, which was introduced on the Airbus A350 and extended to the A330, Airbus’ Airspace product for single-aisle aircraft will ensure a consistent experience for passengers flying on long- and short-haul flights. Cabin features include a state-of-the-art lighting system, increased cabin width and overhead bin space, an 18-inch wide economy seats and a new lavatory design.
BEST INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT INNOVATION Level Portal IAG For the launch of its new low-cost carrier, Level, IAG partnered with Black Swan and Massive to allow passengers to manage their in-flight entertainment experience by pairing their personal electronic devices with the seatback system. Highly secure handshaking mechanisms enable communication and integration for secure payment of food, drinks, amenity kits, duty-free goods and Wi-Fi packages. Through cryptography, purchases can still be made when connectivity is not available.
CEO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Sir Tim Clark, Emirates
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD Pierre A. Schuberth, Thales Inflyt Experience Pierre has been a major contributor to ARINC and APEX (formerly WAEA) since the early 1990s. He has participated on numerous APEX Working Groups and initiatives. In 2006, he coauthored the WAEA white paper to the US Department of Transportation, which detailed the state of closed captioning in in-flight entertainment.
BEST PERSONALIZATION INNOVATION
BEST INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY INNOVATION
SITAONAIR delivers exclusive in-flight e-commerce experience for Emirates SITAONAIR
European Aviation Network Inmarsat Aviation and Deutsche Telekom
Emirates’ in-flight portal, developed by SITAONAIR, enables passengers to log into the Internet ONAIR portal with their Skywards credentials for a personalized passenger experience. The integration offers many services including a custom welcome message, Wi-Fi pricing and offerings tailored to the passenger’s tier level. Frequent-flyer miles can also be used toward the payment of Wi-Fi sessions and more.
The European Aviation Network (EAN) is the first integrated satellite and LTE-based ground network to be used for passenger connectivity in Europe’s aviation industry. Deutsche Telekom and Inmarsat’s new combined terrestrial and satellite network provides travelers in Europe with high-speed in-flight Internet access, and airlines with a cost-efficient, scalable connectivity solution.
YOU BE THE JUDGE! See an innovative product or company on the show floor that you think deserves to be recognized? Submit your ballot for the APEX Cool Award by 5 p.m. on September 27, at the registration desk.
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Long Beach Leisure
Long day in Long Beach? Kick back your feet (or a few drinks) at these restaurants, bars and coffee shops. ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDRE AFFONSO
EAT AND DRINK
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4th and Olive 743 E 4th St. Known for its pretzels
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Beer Belly 255 Long Beach Blvd. Korean food and craft beer
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Chianina Steakhouse 5716 E 2nd Street Steakhouse with beef from specially raised cattle
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Restauration 2708 E 4th St. California fresh food and drinks
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Wide Eyes Open Palms 416 Cherry Ave.
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Cuppa Cuppa 455 E Ocean Blvd.
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Long Beach Convention Center
Staying the weekend? Take the ferry to Santa Catalina Island, about an hour away, or go for a gondola ride on the Naples Canals.
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BOOTH 725
Camera Rolling! This year, APEX Media is working with West Entertainment to create an exciting new video series at EXPO in Long Beach. We’ll be interviewing keynote speakers, attendees and exhibitors about trends and highlights from the show floor and publishing this exclusive content, daily. Be the first to know when the videos will be posted by subscribing to APEX’s YouTube channel (youtube.
com/theapexassoc) signing up for the daily newsletter (apex.aero/ newsletter) or following APEX on Twitter, @theapexassoc. And look out for more videos to come in the future! For more information about APEX video content, please contact maryann.simson@apexmedia.aero. For sponsorship enquiries please write to steve.oconnor@apexmedia.aero.
APEX EXPO 2017 stand #719
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN TRUST THE NEWS?
Because we’ve covered the story from every angle.
We’ve never taken sides in any war, revolution or election.
We’ve reported the facts whatever the obstacles.
And we always champion the truth.
We’ve always asked the difficult questions.
Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas Kicks Off Today With 3,000 Expected Visitors AIX Americas, the sister event of the world-renowned Aircraft Interiors Expo, will play host to VIPs from the world’s leading airlines here in Long Beach. Around 300 executives are expected at AIX Americas from 60 major carriers including American Airlines, British Airways, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines. The two events are key milestones in the aviation industry calendar. Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) provides a noted platform for exhibiting companies
from across the industry to showcase a wide range of products from aircraft seats to galleys, lighting, lavatories, cabin management systems and passenger services.
It is also a forum for industry members to network, share insights and do business with major international and low-cost airlines, business jet companies and a multitude of suppliers covering the entire supply chain.
IFSA Expo Opens Today
IFSA Social Networking Event Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m. Hotel Maya, Pavilion
Head over to Exhibit Hall A to see what’s cooking on the IFSA Expo tradeshow floor. Smell and taste food from company demonstrations by Flying Food Group, DFS, Maneet Chauhan and Sky Cuisine, meet exhibitors and explore the latest food trends that will add spice and flavor to the airline passenger experience. And tonight, mix and mingle with fellow delegates at IFSA’s annual Social Networking Event at Hotel Maya, where attendees will enjoy poke from notable chef Sam Choy, followed by the Hospitality Suite at the Renaissance Hotel. IFSA 2016 Chicago Conference McCormick Place Convention Center
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WB NON-THEATRICAL SALES JEFF CRAWFORD // jeff.crawford@warnerbros.com ANGELICA MCCOY // angelica.mccoy@warnerbros.com wbnts.warnerbros.com
© 2017 Warner Bros. Pictures. All rights reserved.
Crystal Cabin Award Sees Connectivity in Its Future The Crystal Cabin Award submission phase begins today – and with a new category! The Crystal Cabin Award (CCA), a leading prize for aircraft interior innovations, has announced a new category: “Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity.” The integration of connectivity in cabin products, such as Diehl’s idea to reduce weight by transmitting data over power cables in an aircraft, has been the driver for the new category, which replaces the former “Electronics” category. “It is precisely this sort of connectivity and
communication solution, along with in-flight entertainment concepts, that deliver the greatest possible flexibility for passengers. These things are becoming more and more important for the industry,” reads a CCA press release. Submissions for the Crystal Cabin Award begin today through 27 October at crystalcabin-award.com. The winners will be announced at Aircraft Interiors Expo, 10–12 April, 2018, in Hamburg.
Crystal Cabin Award Categories: • Cabin Concepts • Cabin Systems • Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity • Greener Cabin, Health, Safety and Environment • Material and Components • Passenger Comfort Hardware • University
The TabCaddy™ product line provides a range of solutions for personal devices! Welcome.
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Come visit us at Booth 241!
ZODIAC INFLIGHT INNOVATIONS ZODIAC AEROSYSTEMS Connected Cabin Division
Pretty Cool Pool Party
EXPO kicked off with a splash last night at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach pool deck! Guests dipped in and out of small talk between sips of drinks and bites of food, while some dove straight into conversation to catch up with old friends.
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SOLU TIONS
SOLU TIONS
SOLU TIONS
Pretty Cool Pool Party
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APEX EXPO Media Team
Photo of the Day
Al St. Germain
Maryann Simson
Publisher al.stgermain@spafax.com
Director maryann.simson@apexmedia.aero
Steve O’Connor
Caroline Ku
Sales Director steve.oconnor@spafax.com
Manging Editor caroline.ku@apexmedia.aero
Kristina Velan
Magical flight on @westjet to #APEXEXPO #APEXPOTD ^SN
Digital Editor kristina.velan@apexmedia.aero
Valerie Silva
Ari Magnusson
Howard Slutsken
News Editor
Contributor
Marisa García
Stephanie Taylor
Contributor
Contributor
Nicolás Venturelli
Angélica Geisse
Art Director
Graphic Designer
Felipe Batista Nunes
Joanna Forbes
Production Manager
Ad Production Coordinator
Ella Pomonarov
Vance Walstra
Research Assistant
Photographer
Deputy Editor
@SimpliFlying
Poll of the Day What do you think will be the hottest topic at #APEXEXPO this year?
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1
Biometrics
16%
2
Personalization
47%
3
Virtual Reality
21%
4
Blockchain
16%
EXPO DAILY experience
One of our 40 million secure, daily connections. To her, it’s everything. Over 14,000 commercial aircraft rely on Rockwell Collins
CABIN CONNECTIVITY
to stay connected, ensuring safe and efficient operations.
> IFE systems for today and tomorrow
Imagine what we can do for your passengers – engaging, entertaining and empowering them – even beyond the
> Global broadband connectivity
cabin. Because when you connect them to their world,
> Applications and value-added services
they connect with yours. Visit us at APEX EXPO, booth 419. rockwellcollins.com/cabinconnect © 2017 Rockwell Collins. All rights reserved.