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May 23, 2023

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Today's Top Stories

Airlines And FAA Try To Head Off Summer Travel Meltdowns

The number of Americans who will fly this summer could eclipse the pre-pandemic high from 2019. That would be great news for airlines, but it could also cause a backlash against the industry if it fails to keep up with demand, and delays or cancels thousands of flights. Industry executives and FAA officials say they have made changes after recent disruptions and meltdowns that should make air travel less chaotic and more pleasant this summer.

The New York Times | Related Biden Administration Downplayed FAA’s Lack Of Staffing In Air Traffic Control - CNN

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$800M Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant Planned For Washington

Dutch company SkyNRG has chosen Washington state to locate a major new biogas plant that will produce sustainable aviation fuel. In an interview on the sidelines of a Boeing conference on aviation sustainability in Renton, SkyNRG CEO Philippe Lacamp said he expects the plant to be operational by 2028 or 2029. Its construction will provide about 600 jobs, and running it thereafter will provide about 100 permanent new jobs, he said.

The Seattle Times | Related Neste Opens Refinery And Builds SAF Supply Chain To Singapore Changi Airport - Simple Flying

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KLM Begins Rollout Of Gender-Neutral Booking Processes

Passengers flying on Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) who prefer a more neutral form of address can now choose a gender-neutral alternative to the customary masculine or feminine courtesy titles when booking flights in select countries. The airline said this week that there had been a growing demand for this option, which has been well-received among customers. KLM believes that introducing this option aligns with efforts to become more inclusive and deliver a more personalized customer experience and follows similar moves from other airlines.

Simple Flying | Related KLM Introduces Non-Binary Options In Booking Process - Business Travel News Europe

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JetZero And Factorydesign Unveil Cabin Concepts For BWB Jet

Blended wing body (BWB) aircraft have been studied for decades. Now a former McDonnell Douglas program manager, Mark Page — who in the 1990s led a three-year NASA funded initiative to explore BWB properties — is working with other industry veterans with the intent of bringing a viable BWB aircraft to market. The company is California-based startup JetZero. Co-founded by Page, who serves as CTO, and CEO Tom O’Leary, JetZero believes its BWB design will be nothing short of “revolutionary” for commercial aviation, delivering up to 50% better fuel efficiency than today’s mid-market airliners.

Runway Girl Network | Related A First Look Inside JetZero’s Blended Wing Body - Aircraft Interiors International

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Birmingham Airport Transforms Passenger Security Experience With CT Screening Technology

Birmingham Airport is installing Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray scanners as part of a £20 million security screening upgrade. The technology, supplied by Smiths Detection, will enable passengers to leave liquids and electronics in hand baggage from June 2024. The new security checkpoints will feature Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX, a CT X-ray scanner that produces high-resolution volumetric 3D images for quicker and deeper baggage assessment and low false-alarm rates. Other new solutions to be supplied to Birmingham Airport include the iLane, an automatic tray return system, and additional X-ray systems.

Future Travel Experience | Related Birmingham Airport To Implement Smiths Detection CT Screening Technology - Passenger Terminal Today

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Aberdeen Airport Launches Campus Watch To Tackle Disruptive Passenger Behavior

Scotland’s Aberdeen International Airport has launched the Campus Watch campaign in partnership with Police Scotland. The initiative helps provide training, advice and support to staff who interact with passengers throughout their journey. Airport staff can report individuals displaying disruptive behavior. This information is shared with staff across the airport via a rapid text alert system. Passengers can be given warnings about their behavior, monitored by police and airport staff, or even refused alcohol at all bars and restaurants.

Passenger Terminal Today | Related Aberdeen Targets Disruptive Behaviour - Airports International

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Surge In Air Travel Leads To Record-Breaking Mishandled Bags In 2022

A recent study has found that the rate of lost, damaged, or delayed luggage in the aviation industry soared last year as airlines struggled to manage the surge in demand for air travel following the pandemic. According to SITA’s annual Baggage Insights report released on May 16, around 26 million bags were mishandled by airlines and baggage handlers worldwide in 2022. This amounts to a rate of 7.6 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers. The figure is almost double the 2021 rate of 4.35 per 1,000.

Business Traveler | Related Baggage Mishandling Rates Double Amid Growing Passenger Volumes, SITA Reports - Passenger Terminal Today

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today’s picture comes from @honorato_spotter, showing a GOL Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737 aircraft.

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

> Tweet of the Day

@United says it has added iOS Live Activities to its app, “giving customers real-time access to their boarding pass, gate and seat number, and countdown clock to departure time on their Lock Screen or…in the Dynamic Island, all without opening the United app.” Neat. #PaxEx

Jason Rabinowitz @AirlineFlyer

Association News

FTE EMEA

Future Travel Experience EMEA returns to the “Silicon Valley of Europe”, Dublin from 23-25 May, to become established as the region’s definitive end-to-end air transport innovation show with an atmosphere, energy and audience like no other. This high-level three-day event, focused on the art of scaling innovative ideas, is dedicated to new thinking and concepts, and combines an exhibition, extensive social activities, conference sessions, interactive workshops, pitch sessions and awards with turbo-charged networking. For more information, click here.

> Quote of the Day

“KLM recognises that society, and thus customer requirements, are changing. At the same time, we consider it very important that customers continue to feel at home at KLM. That’s why I’m proud that we’re now giving customers more choice in how they would like to be addressed.”

Boet Kreiken, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience at KLM
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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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