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January 29, 2021

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Today's Top Stories

US Airlines Reveal Q4 Financials, Find Positives in Historic Year

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue all reported their 2020 Q4 financials. While losses numbered in the billions, the companies noted accomplishments in other areas. American’s CEO, Doug Parker, said the carrier flew more customers than any other airline last year. While it lost nearly $9 billion in 2020, it incorporated cost-reduction initiatives that slowed its daily cash burn rate from $100 million to $30 million in Q4. Southwest experienced a net loss of $3.1 billion, its first since 1972, but ended the year with liquidity of $14.3 billion. JetBlue lost $1.3 billion by year-end, but the decline in revenue during Q4 was less than the company’s prior estimates.

American Airlines | Related JetBlue Announces Fourth Quarter 2020 Results – JetBlue

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Southwest Supports Sundance and Storytellers

As the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival Short Film program, Southwest is focused on supporting creatives as they hone their storytelling craft. The airline will include a selection of shorts from this year’s cohort on its IFE platform in the coming months. It also tapped filmmaker Reaa Puri to create a video that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the creative process of filmmaking, which will be shared on Southwest’s social media channels. “I hope other artists view this piece as an affirmation to follow their wildest dreams and creative pursuits,” Puri said.

pr newswire | Related A LOVE LETTER TO STORYTELLING – Sundance 2021

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RiM Prioritizes Sustainability for Lufthansa’s New Catering Concept

Retail inMotion (RiM) helped develop Lufthansa’s new catering concept for economy-class passengers on short- and medium-haul flights. RiM decided to use PaperWise material for Lufthansa’s packaging, which has the same quality as conventional paper but is made entirely of recycled agricultural waste and reduces the packaging’s environmental impact by 47% compared to conventional paper and by 29% compared to recycled paper. When it came to selecting culinary partners dean&david and Dallmayr, RiM was looking for products made in Germany that related to the airline’s brand values and fit their passengers’ need for high-quality products and greater choice.

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HNA Group Faces Bankruptcy After Debt Restructuring Fails

Global conglomerate and Hainan Airlines owner HNA Group entered bankruptcy after it could not produce sufficient funds following a government-led debt repayment program. The company used strong revenue from its airline to purchase stakes in Hilton, Deutsche Bank and other brands over the years. High debt and other issues led government officials and Hainan’s provincial authorities to form a working group in February aimed at restructuring HNA Group’s finances. The company also owns Hong Kong Airlines.

South China Morning Post | Related Chinese officials are taking control of troubled airline operator HNA – CNN

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KID-Systeme Announces New Managing Director

Stefan Stolzki, head of Customer Services for Cabin Electronics at Airbus Operations and KID-Systeme, has been newly appointed as KID-Systeme’s managing director and will take over the position from Peter Schetschine immediately. Airbus subsidiary KID-Systeme has dual leadership, so Stolzki will work alongside fellow managing director, Fokke Mentjes. In his role, Stolzki will be responsible for overall revenue generation, including business development, product line management, sales, customer program management, marketing communications and events. In the past, he has held various senior positions at Satair and Airbus Operations.

Pax International | Related Airbus W-IFE represents natural evolution of airframer strategy – Runway Girl Network

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Virgin Hyperloop Releases Demo Video Showing Cabin Designed by Teague

A new video demonstrates what Hyperloop travel may look like, from check-in to disembarkation. The technology, developed by Virgin, uses magnetically levitated pods racing through a network of vacuum tubes and is billed as the first new mode of transportation since the introduction of the airplane. To make the windowless cabin feel more open, design company Teague implemented a large skylight with an artificial lighting system that mimics natural sunlight. Bands of greenery and wood textures also bring a freshness to the cabin, said John Barratt, CEO and president, Teague.

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Gulf Air Opens New Falcon Gold Lounge at BAH

Gulf Air’s presence at the just-opened terminal in Bahrain’s International Airport (BAH) includes a new Falcon Gold lounge. Open 24/7, the lounge can accommodate up to 400 passengers at a time, doubling its capacity at the old airport. Features that remain from its previous lounge offering, such as showers, prayer spaces, food stations and children’s areas, have been revamped to “reflect new concepts of modern premium lounges, yet keeping with the legacy and rich history of the 70-year-old Gulf Air brand,” the airline said. The lounge also includes a quiet area and live cooking stations.

The Design Air | Related Landmark terminal opening launches a new era for Bahrain International Airport – The Moodie Davitt Report

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

"A small plane behaving like a big one."

This week, we're highlighting the work of Daniel Rico, which was featured in issue 9.4 of #APEXExperienceMag.

> Tweet of the Day

We're excited to bring the latest blockbuster films to #IFE screens this year, kicking off with #Tenet which is already on board a number of our airline clients. Check out our latest blog post discussing the best Christopher Nolan films!

Inflight Dublin @InflightDublin

Association News

Time to Plan For FTE APEX Virtual Expo 2021

FTE APEX Virtual Expo 2021 will be the most comprehensive global industry gathering of the year. Exhibitors and speakers will share ideas and solutions that can help airlines, airports and their partners deliver improvements in the following key areas of focus: digital transformation & automation, biosecurity & sanitization, airport solutions, in-flight service, cabin interiors, startup innovation and more. Contact us if you would like to explore how your organization can get involved.

> Quote of the Day

"With APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying, we look forward to openly sharing best practices to advance customer care.”

Mike Medeiros, Delta Air Lines
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Until next week

ABOUT APEX

The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) encompasses a network of airlines, businesses and professionals that are committed to providing a world-class airline experience for passengers around the globe. Every day, APEX members are improving every aspect of the airline experience, from designing, building and installing seating, entertainment and communications systems on commercial aircraft, to airport lounges and in-flight dining. Visit apex.aero for more information. APEX is professionally managed by Kellen Company, the premier global association management firm with offices and representation in the United States, Europe, China, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.

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