TSA Ultimatum and Delta’s iPhone-Style IFE: 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.
Like an iPhone: Delta Debuts a Redesigned IFE User Interface
INFLIGHT ONLINE | MAY 12, 2016
Delta Air Lines has unveiled a revamped graphical user interface (GUI) on its in-flight entertainment system. The Atlanta-based carrier says the redesign provides an improved experience, which aligns with the airline’s website and mobile app. According to Joseph Kiely, Delta’s managing director of Product and Customer Experience, navigating the new GUI is “more like interacting with an iPhone.” Upgraded features include enhanced search functionality, a spotlight section to highlight promotions, customizable monthly themes and background images based on departure cities.
GEE Agrees to Buy Emerging Markets Communications for $550 Million
GEE NEWSROOM | MAY 9, 2016
Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) has signed an agreement to acquire maritime satellite connectivity provider Emerging Markets Communications (EMC). Under the terms of the merger, GEE will pay $550 million for EMC, with shareholders receiving $30 million in cash and 6.6 million shares of GEE stock. Dave Davis, GEE’s chief executive officer, will become CEO of the new combined company, and Abel Avellan, founder and CEO of EMC, is expected to serve as GEE’s president and chief strategy officer. “This is a transformative acquisition for GEE that significantly expands our addressable market and accelerates our growth opportunities,” says Davis.
AA Unveils Lie-Flat Business-Class Seats
FORBES | MAY 10, 2016
American Airlines has unveiled its new lie-flat business-class seat. Designed by B/E Aerospace, the seats will be installed on AA’s upcoming Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, while several of the US carrier’s Boeing 777-200s will also be retrofitted. The Dallas-based carrier chose to work with B/E Aerospace after severing a contract with Zodiac Aerospace following a spate of product delivery delays last year. The new seats will be deployed in Super Diamond configuration to provide aisle access for every seat.
Port Authority Gives TSA Ultimatum Due to Long Passenger Wait Times
THE VERGE | MAY 13, 2016
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is threatening to replace the TSA at New York City’s main airports if the agency fails to reduce security wait times. In a strongly worded letter, the PANYNJ writes that it “respectfully but urgently” asks that the TSA provide sufficient staff at checkpoints to ensure “effective and efficient passenger screening.” The Port Authority says it is considering enrolling in TSA’s Screening Partnership Program, which lets airports use private security contractors to handle screening operations.
Paramount Chooses Spafax to Provide Post-Production Services for Non-Theatrical Content
SPAFAX NEWSROOM | MAY 10, 2016
Paramount Pictures has selected Spafax’s post-production lab, The Hub, for a variety of technical services related to non-theatrical releases. Located at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, The Hub will provide services including editing, closed captioning, subtitling and encoding for a variety of platforms, such as embedded and wireless in-flight entertainment systems, streaming and mobile. “The ways in which we all enjoy content have changed drastically in the past few years. The Hub is at the forefront of important consumer and technological trends,” says Joan Filippini, Paramount’s SVP of Non-Theatrical Distribution.
Embraer CEO Says Bombardier Won Delta C Series Order Through Unfair Subsidies
AIR TRANSPORT WORLD | MAY 13, 2016
Lufthansa today announced a partnership with Harman Kardon, which ought to please travelers who struggle to relax inside noisy aircraft cabins. The deal will see the high-end audio company provide aviation-certified versions of its AKG N60 noise-canceling headphones to the German flag carrier’s business-class passengers. “This is the first initiative in what we expect will be a long-term partnership with Lufthansa to provide future Harman connected technologies to equip the organization and their passengers,” says Michael Mauser, president of Harman’s Lifestyle Audio Division.
