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February 15, 2024

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Today's Top Stories

Delta Air Lines Staff Receive $1.4 Billion Profit Share Bonus

Delta Air Lines rewarded its staff with a $1.4 billion profit share bonus, equivalent to 10.4% of their annual pay, on Valentine's Day, marking the seventh year the airline has distributed over $1 billion in profit sharing. This bonus, based on the carrier's 2023 profits, is shared among over 100,000 workers globally, with the largest portion of $595 million going to employees in Georgia, USA. Since 2007, Delta has paid out a total of $11 billion in profit sharing, emphasizing the company's commitment to gratitude and teamwork following the industry's challenges in the early 2000s.

Travel Weekly | Related Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian on $1.4B profit sharing, travel demand outlook – CNBC

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Stellar Awards Hub Helps Airlines Source Award-Winning IFE

Stellar Entertainment has launched the Stellar Awards Hub, a free tool for airlines to access licensing information such as availability dates, distributors and territory details for award-winning films and TV shows. It includes nominees and winners from the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Primetime Emmys, Critic's Choice Awards and Independent Spirit Awards. The hub uses the API functionality of Stellar's pixL workflow and content management platform, to aggregate information from sources like inflight distributors, IMDb, Google AI and ChatGPT.

APEX Insights | Related APEX TECH Panel Preview: "AI-Assisted" Smart Metadata in the Content Delivery Supply Chain – APEX

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Amex Opens Centurion Lounge At Atlanta Airport

American Express has inaugurated its largest Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, spanning 2,400sqm near gate E11 on Concourse E. The design draws inspiration from Atlanta's "city in the forest" moniker, featuring a 50-year-old olive tree, a forest canopy light sculpture, and a mural by Evan Blackwell Helgeson. Unique to this lounge are year-round outdoor terraces and The Reserve whiskey bar. The menu, crafted by Deborah VanTrece, offers dishes like black-eyed pea biryani and Za’atar grilled chicken thighs. Additional amenities include shower suites and dedicated workspaces.

Business Traveller | Related Massive Amex Centurion Lounge Atlanta Opening! – One Mile at a Time

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Aviation Among Sectors To Be Served By Texas Hydrogen Production Plant

HNO International is collaborating with Element One Energy and Pneumatic and Hydraulic Company to create the first 500kg per day green hydrogen production facility in Houston, Texas. Targeting the civil aviation market among others, this facility represents a pioneering step in green hydrogen production. Scheduled for completion in Q2 of this year, with a public opening in June, the facility will feature HNO's Scalable Hydrogen Energy Platform (SHEP), utilizing a 1.25MW electrolyzer for efficient green hydrogen production from water.

Runway Girl Network | Related Airbus powers on ZEROe fuel cell, eyes A380 test flights in 2026 – Runway Girl Network

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Sydney Airport Upgrades SmartGate Passport Lanes

Sydney Airport is upgrading to 'Generation 3' technology for its SmartGate system, enhancing the arrival process for more international travelers with advanced biometric capabilities. This upgrade, aimed to be completed by mid-2024, follows installations at other major Australian airports, including Brisbane, Adelaide (expected by March), Gold Coast, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, and Cairns. The new system promises faster processing times, improved accessibility, and compatibility with a broader range of international passports. Despite reduced capacity during the upgrade, additional Australian Border Force officers will minimize potential delays.

Executive Traveller | Related Global Entry Enrollment On Departure Now Offered At Dulles International Airport – Simple Flying

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Largest Single-Site Rooftop Solar Panel System To Be Built At Changi Airport

Changi Airport is set to host Singapore's largest rooftop solar panel system, aiming for completion in early 2025. The project, managed by Keppel for 25 years, will see solar panels across terminal, auxiliary, airfield, and cargo buildings. This installation, totaling 43 MWp, includes Singapore's first solar PV system within an airport's airfield. Expected to power over 10,000 four-room HDB flats annually, it will cut Changi's carbon emissions by 20,000 tonnes yearly, about 10% of its 2019 consumption. A separate 640kWp system by SolarGY will halve emissions at the airport's maintenance center.

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TAG Heuer And Tudor Boutique Watch Stores Open At London Gatwick

London Gatwick Airport has enhanced its retail offerings with the opening of boutique watch stores TAG Heuer and Tudor in the South Terminal, post-security. These inaugurations mark the first new retail additions to Gatwick in 2024, with more anticipated in the upcoming months. TAG Heuer showcases a range of luxury watches, highlighting Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship, while Tudor's showroom, with its elegant design, aims to share its passion for high-quality timepieces with a global audience, enhancing passengers' shopping experience.

Passenger Terminal Today | Related Duo of luxury watch boutiques are Gatwick first store openings of 2024 – TR Business

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's picture comes from @ryuno_aviatin_photo, showing an All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

Use #APEXPOTD for the chance to be featured in the APEX Daily Experience newsletter!

> Tweet of the Day

Decided to skip breakfast on departure from DOH on BA122 today & sleep first. FA came to ask what I wanted on seeing me wake up. BA's tea is good, with a decent selection of snacks. 2nd meal of chicken wrap served 1h before landing. A decent snack to stop my hunger pangs. #PaxEx

Wayne Kwong @waynewykwong

Association News

Shop the Online APEX Merchandise Store

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Share the love by surprising your colleagues and team with thoughtful gifts from the APEX Store. It's the perfect way to express your appreciation and support for our wonderful APEX community. Start spreading the love – Start Shopping today!

APEX TECH | 28-29 February 2024 | Los Angeles, CA, USA

Come embark on a journey to explore the latest advancements and innovations in the world of Inflight Connectivity, Media Content and Supply Chain, Data Capture and Intelligence, and Ancillary and Passenger Experience Use. Join us at 2024 APEX TECH, 28-29 February, in Los Angeles, CA, and learn from and network with airlines and service providers. Registration is now open!

Delta Air Lines’ Ekrem Dimbiloglu to join us at APEX TECH

We’re delighted Ekrem Dimbiloglu will be joining us at APEX TECH. He is Delta Air Lines’ Managing Director of Customer Experience. Find out more about Ekrem’s work on Delta SYNC in this insightful interview he did with NPR.

> Quote of the Day

"Rewarding our people is fundamental to who we are at Delta. It's always my number one priority to take care of the Delta team, and today is a prime opportunity to recognise their dedication and efforts in 2023."

Delta Chief Executive, Ed Bastian
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The next newsletter will be out tomorrow.

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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