EgyptAir Flight MS804: APEX Daily Experience Week in Review
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Here are the most-read stories from this week’s APEX Daily Experience newsletters. To receive breaking passenger experience industry news in your inbox on a daily basis, subscribe here.
Egyptian Navy Finds Belongings and Debris From MS804
REUTERS | MAY 20, 2016
The Egyptian navy says it has found the personal belongings of passengers and other debris about 180 miles north of the port city of Alexandria, but is still searching for the aircraft’s black box recorders. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi officially acknowledged the deaths when he offered condolences for the passengers on board. Although suspicions have pointed to Islamist militants, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident. In October, the Islamic State group said it had downed a Russian jetliner that had taken off from the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Airplane Mode: Clearing the Air and Debunking the Myths
APEX MEDIA | MAY 16, 2016
With in-flight connectivity becoming a reality, “airplane mode” has become a source of confusion for passengers. Why do airlines still require airplane mode for takeoffs and landings? What happens to our smartphones when we select the little jetliner icon, and what happens if we don’t? Are all cell phones created equal? Can enabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in flight scramble signals? Will recent technological developments, such as AeroMobile’s 3G exPhone service available across airberlin’s long-haul fleet, eliminate the need for airplane mode all together? APEX asks three technically inclined experts to clear the air and debunk the myths about airplane mode.
Inmarsat on Track for Ka-Band GX Service Launch
GET CONNECTED | MAY 17, 2016
The commercial service introduction of Inmarsat’s Ka-band Global Xpress (GX) in-flight connectivity solution is imminent, according to the company’s VP of Aviation Strategy, Frederick van Essen. Speaking at a media event at Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix, van Essen said, “We’ve always said we would launch in 2016 and we will. All the pieces of the puzzle are in place.” Honeywell says it is finishing up testing of its in-flight JetWave hardware for GX aboard its Boeing 757 test aircraft, after flying extensively across US and European airspace to ensure the systems work when transitioning between satellites.
[PHOTOS] Changing Fabric: Alitalia Continues Brand Makeover With Redesigned Uniforms
THEDESIGNAIR | MAY 19, 2016
Alitalia unveiled new cabin crew and ground staff uniforms at an event in Rome this week. The deep red and emerald green outfits are the work of Ettore Bilotta, a Milan-based fashion designer who was tasked with creating garments that evoke jet-set era nostalgia and showcase Italian arts, culture, people, design and landscapes. “This is a country at the forefront of global style and design. The new uniforms complement the renaissance of the Alitalia brand,” said Cramer Ball, CEO of Alitalia. The redesigned attire will be gradually introduced starting early July.
Entertaining Improvements: Virgin Australia Unveils 18-Inch HD Seatback Screens
INFLIGHT ONLINE | MAY 16, 2016
Virgin Australia has unveiled a new business-class seat for its Boeing 777 fleet operating transpacific routes between Australia and North America. The product will be retrofitted inside all five of the airline’s wide-body Boeing jets in the third quarter of 2016. Each business-class seat will be equipped with an 18-inch high-definition touch display featuring the carrier’s In-Flight Entertainment Seatback system and a redesigned user interface. The airline also announced that a revitalized premium economy cabin, with 24 seats offering a 41-inch pitch and 10.6-inch seatback screens, will be added to its transpacific 777 fleet.
Birds of a Feather: Asia-Pacific LCCs Flock Together to Form Budget Airline Alliance
INQUIRER.NET | MAY 17, 2016
Eight airlines from Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia have formed what they are calling the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers. The partnership is intended to offer passengers the ability to book connecting flights through a jointly owned platform offering more than 160 destinations and a collective fleet of 176 aircraft. Called the Value Alliance, the grouping brings together Singapore Airlines’ medium- to long-haul budget wing Scoot, the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific, South Korea’s Jeju Air, Thailand’s Nok Air and NokScoot, Tigerair Singapore, Tigerair Australia and Japan’s Vanilla Air.
