Electronic Devices Ban & A Dissolving Airline Brand: 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.
Trump Administration Restricts Electronic Devices on Flights From 10 Middle Eastern Airports
THE NEW YORK TIMES | MARCH 21, 2017
Passengers flying to the US with foreign airlines from 10 airports across eight Muslim-majority countries have been barred from carrying electronic devices larger than a cellphone, under a new measure enacted by the Trump administration. The US Department of Homeland Security says restricted items include laptops, tablets, cameras, travel printers and game consoles. The list of affected airports includes Istanbul Ataturk, Hamad International, Dubai International and Abu Dhabi International.
Alaska Airlines to Dissolve Virgin America Brand
USA TODAY | MARCH 23, 2017
Alaska Airlines has confirmed it will phase out the Virgin America brand, absorbing the carrier under its own name by 2019. Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the newly merged airline “will adopt many of the brand elements that Virgin America enthusiasts love,” including the carrier’s mood lighting, music and in-flight entertainment, “to create a warm and welcoming West Coast-inspired vibe.” According to Alaska Airlines’ VP of Marketing, Sangita Woerner, “While the Virgin America name is beloved to many, we concluded that to be successful on the West Coast we had to do so under one name – for consistency and efficiency, and to allow us to continue to deliver low fares.”
PXCom and Vision Systems Unveil Flexible Wireless IFE System
PAX INTERNATIONAL | MARCH 22, 2017
PXCom and Vision Systems have unveiled a new wireless in-flight entertainment system called Visi-Stream. The companies are touting the system’s flexible graphical user interface (GUI), which integrates PXCom’s end-to-end XPlore solution, enabling digital content on aircraft servers to be updated from a ground-based platform. “Updating the GUI, from simple design changes to additional sections was a pain point for the airlines,” said Cyril Jean, CEO of PXCom. “Airlines can now choose to change both the user experience and the content management in a few clicks.” Vision Systems will showcase Visi-Stream at next month’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
APEX Media Spotlight: Qatar Airways’ Business-Class QSuite
APEX MEDIA | MARCH 20, 2017
APEX Media has launched a new online series that offers different perspectives on passenger experience announcements, products and issues from top industry sources. In the first installment of APEX Media Spotlight, we look at the media’s reaction to what Qatar Airways claims is the “first-ever double bed available in business class.” Qatar Airways’ new business-class seat launch was one of the most eagerly anticipated announcements at ITB Berlin 2017, and the QSuite garnered plenty of media attention and a wide range of opinions. While Skift’s Brian Sumers applauded Qatar for focusing on business class, rather than first, Runway Girl’s Seth Miller and John Walton doubted QSuite’s appeal to business travelers.
APEX Calls for Immediate Solution to Electronics Ban
APEX MEDIA | MARCH 24, 2017
APEX has directly engaged with US and UK government officials to prevent the spread of the electronics ban. According to APEX’s 2016 Global Survey results, 38 percent of airline passengers bring a laptop on board, while 43 percent bring a tablet. “Every threat placed against global air carriers has been met with viable solutions,” said APEX CEO Joe Leader. “Placing items into the cargo hold does not fully address the issue with a passenger-centric solution.” Until an aligned security solution has been reached, APEX encourages full compliance of the ban by airlines, airports and passengers.
Stream Team: Qantas Adds Stan to Growing List of Wireless IFE Content Partners
TECH RADAR | MARCH 21, 2017
Qantas has partnered with Australian streaming service Stan ahead of its planned in-flight Wi-Fi rollout across its Boeing 737 domestic fleet in mid-April. The collaboration means passengers on 737 domestic flights will receive a unique code, giving them free access to Stan’s entire catalog of videos on their personal devices. After landing, viewers can continue using Stan free of charge for a 90-day period. The streaming tie-up adds to Qantas’ growing list of content partners, which includes Netflix, Spotify and Foxtel.
