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May 18, 2022

KLM’s Pieter Elbers to Replace Ronojoy Dutta as IndiGo CEO

InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) has appointed Pieter Elbers as chief executive officer, succeeding Ronojoy Dutta who is set to retire on September 30, 2022. Elbers has served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines since 2014 and is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Air France – KLM Group. Elbers will join IndiGo on October 1, 2022. He stated, “I am delighted to become a part of the next stage of IndiGo’s incredible journey, further fulfilling the vision of what the airline can do and will be for its customers and for India.”

Business Standard | Related KLM Names First Female CEO – Skift

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SMBC Aviation Capital to Purchase Aircraft Lessor Goshawk

Aircraft leasing firm SMBC Aviation Capital has struck a deal with NWS Holdings and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises to purchase aircraft lessor Goshawk Aviation for $6.7B. The deal is currently awaiting regulatory approval and includes the acquisition of 176 owned and managed aircraft, which will increase SMBC’s portfolio to 709 aircraft. However, the deal does not include Goshawk’s aircraft located in Russia. Upon completion of the deal, expected in the second half of the year, SMBC Aviation Capital will be the largest Japanese-owned aircraft lessor and second-largest global player by number of aircraft.

Airport Technology | Related Lessor AerCap books $2.7 bln charge on stranded Russian jets – Financial Post

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Air Canada Celebrates Turning Red with Exclusive IFE Release

Air Canada passengers will be the first in-flight audiences to watch Turning Red when it debuts onboard in June. The film, set in Toronto and directed by Canadian Domee Shi, will be available via the carrier’s in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. Ahead of the release, Spafax launched several Turning Red touchpoints across the customer journey throughout February and March. Seatback screens featured an animated landscape of Toronto during boarding; screensavers promoted director Domee Shi’s favorite places in Toronto; and enRoute magazine included a custom-illustration on its cover of Toronto featuring the film’s main character, and an interview with Domee Shi.

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FAA Clears United Boeing 777 Fleet to Return to Service

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared United Airlines' Pratt & Whitney-powered Boeing 777s, allowing the aircraft to resume flights. The Boeing 777 fleet has been grounded since February 2021, when a United flight with Pratt & Whitney's PW4000 engine suffered an engine failure, scattering debris across several Denver-area neighborhoods. The airline has said that it intends to resume flights within the next week, with the first flight officially scheduled on May 26. The Boeing 777 fleet represents 10 percent of the carrier’s capacity; clearance of the aircraft will aid the airline as it prepares for a busy summer.

Business Travel News | Related Boeing 777X deliveries likely to be delayed until early 2025 – Reuters

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Singapore Changi Airport Resumes Work on Mega Terminal 5

Singapore Changi International Airport and the Ministry of Transportation have resumed work on Changi’s new mega Terminal 5. Initially launched in 2018, the project was put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport has begun reopening terminal 2 with plans to open Terminal 4, joining Terminals 1 and 3 which are already open. When completed, Terminal 5 will be bigger than the other terminals combined with 100 gates and a capacity of 50 million passengers per year. T5 was initially scheduled to open by 2030 but will now begin operations “around the mid-2030s.”

Airways Magazine | Related Singapore Airlines’ new Changi T3 KrisFlyer Gold lounge opens May 20 – Executive Traveller

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S7’s Undelivered Boeing 737 MAX to Fly for Turkish Airlines

As part of ongoing sanctions against Russia, S7 is barred from receiving any new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing leading to a Boeing 737 MAX initially destined for the carrier to be registered in Turkey instead. The aircraft took its first flights on May 9 and 13 while still bearing S7’s green livery and a partially scraped-off S on its tail. The jet, leased from BOC Aviation, will go to the Turkish Airlines group instead and will be operated by its subsidiary AnadoluJet. S7 had taken delivery of two of ten of the aircraft type it had on order.

Simple Flying | Related Aeroflot buys eight stranded Airbuses from foreign leasing firms – Reuters

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Second Nepal International Airport Opens

The Government of Nepal has opened Gautam Buddha International Airport, the country’s second international airport. Located 19km from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lumbini, the new airport has a 15,169 square meter terminal building and a 3,000-meter runway designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft. The project required a $76.1 million investment, of which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided $37M in loans and grants while the OPEC Fund for International Development provided an $11M loan. The Government of Nepal funded the rest.

Airport Technology | Related How The Mexican Government Is Encouraging Use Of The New Mexico City Airport – Simple Flying

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

An Air France aircraft on the runway. Captured by @petalidaki

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

> Tweet of the Day

Thales has partnered with #Ubisoft to shape the future of inflight #gaming! Airline passengers will be able to enjoy the growing #UbisoftNano suite of games based on the famous worlds of #Rayman, Might & Magic, #HungryShark, and many more! #PaxEx

Thales Aerospace @ThalesAerospace

Association News

Register Now for APEX Content Market!

Registration is now open for APEX Content Market! Join us June 8-9, in Dublin, Ireland, for this exclusive, members-only event featuring the best in TV, movies, games, GUIs, apps & audio. Our show floor for this year's event is expected to SELL OUT quickly, so be sure to secure your spot now. Check out all our exhibitors here and click here to register!

> Quote of the Day

"We worked with Air Canada to celebrate Turning Red by ensuring the airline’s in-flight audiences will be the first to watch the film onboard as a way of extending the world of the film and... ‘as a love letter to Toronto and everything Canadian."

Alexander Glavonich, Spafax
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Until 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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