Top News From APEX EXPO 2016
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Thousands of aviation professionals were in attendance at APEX EXPO 2016, the only event exclusive to experts and decision-makers committed to elevating the airline passenger experience. APEX Media was on-site in Singapore last week, covering the latest in passenger experience news. Here are the top headlines from the four-day event.
Starting Up: APEX and TripIt Partner for Official Airline Ratings Program
APEX CEO Joe Leader announced at APEX EXPO 2016 a partnership with TripIt from Concur that will support the association’s launch of its Official Airline Ratings program. The TripIt app will collect passenger ratings, verify data and measure the quality of the passenger experience. Passengers using the app will be able to rate their flights using a five-star scale as early as mid-November. Read more.
Introducing the 2016 APEX Award Winners
Air New Zealand took home two of the eight awards at the 2016 APEX Awards ceremony hosted by Dominic Lau and held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on October 24. The Newcomer of the Year Award went to Immfly for its wireless entertainment platform and to SkyLights for its immersive IFE headsets, while Singapore Airlines’ Goh Choon Phong was the recipient of the first-ever APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more.
BAE Systems and digEcor Secure Airline Deals for In-Seat Power
Virgin Australia has announced it will be trialing BAE Systems’ IntelliCabin over a one-year period, and may install the in-seat power solution on its entire Boeing 737-800 fleet in 2018. Meanwhile, digEcor has secured a deal to supply AirAsia’s Mirus Aircraft Seating’s Hawk slimline seats with its GLIDE in-seat power solution, which maximizes seat space by incorporating a USB outlet into the seat’s armrest. Read more here and here.
Now Boarding: Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Prepares for Takeoff
Inmarsat Aviation president Leo Mondale announced at APEX EXPO that the initial deployment of GX Aviation has been completed. GX Aviation utilizes Inmarsat’s Global Xpress constellation of three advanced Ka-band satellites to provide global high-speed broadband connectivity. Lufthansa will be the first airline customer for GX Aviation, with service beginning next month in a soft launch. Read more.
Thales’ AVANT IFE Platform to Foster Innovation on Emirates Boeing 777X Fleet
Thales announced at APEX EXPO that it has secured a deal to equip the first 50 of Emirates’ future Boeing 777X fleet with AVANT in-flight entertainment systems. Thales attributes the deal to a commitment it made to boost its presence in Dubai by establishing Discovery Dubai, a custom innovation center that will enable it to develop and shape its future passenger development initiatives. Read more.
Airbus Aims to Realize Connected Aircraft Vision
Airbus announced at APEX EXPO the successful demonstration of its new standard high-bandwidth connectivity (HBC) architecture. The flight test was performed on an A330 using Zodiac Inflight Innovations’ equipment and Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-Band satellite constellation. Rollout of the HBC platform is expected to begin mid-2017, and will eventually be available across other Airbus aircraft families, including the A320 and the A380. Read more.
Rockwell Collins and FlightPath3D Showcase Flight-Tracking Innovation
Rockwell Collins announced at APEX EXPO that its Airshow Moving Map for airlines is now available on HTML5 web browsers for smartphones and laptops. Offered as part of the company’s PAVES wireless in-flight entertainment system, the browser-compatible version of Airshow Mobile features an interactive 2-D worldwide map that includes high-focus city and airport details, with support for six default languages. Read more.
APEX EXPO: Panasonic Avionics News Roundup
Panasonic Avionics made a series of major announcements at APEX EXPO in Singapore last week: Aeroméxico’s new 60-aircraft order of Boeing 737 MAXs will be equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ eX1 linefit in-flight entertainment system, Panasonic’s ZeroTouch service was launched, and the aerospace supplier partnered with Flight Level Media for an in-flight app. Read more.
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PXCom Is the 2016 APEX Cool Award Winner!
PXCom is the recipient of this year’s APEX Cool Award, a peer-selected accolade that recognizes exhibitors for showcasing remarkable innovations. In addition to its seatback- and wireless in-flight entertainment-compatible interactive destination guides, PXCom also offers a digital in-flight ad-serving solution. Runner-up for the award was Images in Motion. Formia, IMG Media and Stellar Entertainment placed in a three-way tie for third. Read more.