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July 7, 2023

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Today's Top Stories

Norwegian To Buy Norway Airline Widerøe 'In Shock Move'

Norwegian has surprised the aviation industry by announcing its agreement to acquire regional carrier Widerøe for $105 million, pending approval from the Norwegian Competition Authority. Norwegian CEO Geir Karlsen called it a milestone in Norwegian aviation history and believes the deal will pose a major challenge for rival airline SAS. Media reports and analysts say that the acquisition makes sense strategically as Widerøe serves smaller airports in Norway, complementing Norwegian's direct flights from Oslo to key hubs. The deal will also help Norwegian cope with seasonality and strengthen its position in the Nordic region. Pending approval, both companies will continue operations independently.

Forbes | Related

Norwegian announces agreement to acquire Widerøe - Norwegian

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Netherlands can cap Schiphol flights, Dutch appeal court rules

The Dutch government has won a court appeal, allowing it to reduce the number of flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, despite opposition from airlines. The government plans to cap flight movements to address noise pollution, with a target of reducing flights by 12% to 440,000 per year. The ruling allows for flight reductions from the end of the year until October 2024. Dutch flag carrier KLM, along with other airlines, expressed disappointment and is studying the ruling's implications. KLM has proposed alternative measures such as using quieter aircraft and reducing early morning and late-night flights to mitigate noise pollution. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticized the flight cap approach as job-destroying.

Paddle Your Own Canoe | Related

Netherlands can cap Schiphol flights, Dutch appeal court rules - Reuters

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London Gatwick Airport Submits Plans For A Second Runway

London Gatwick Airport has submitted a proposal for a £2.2 billion expansion project that aims to put its northern runway into routine use, increasing its passenger capacity to approximately 75 million per year. The airport formally submitted its application for a Development Consent Order to the Planning Inspectorate. If approved, the expansion would create around 14,000 new jobs and contribute £1 billion annually to the region's economy. The plan includes repositioning the center line of the northern runway to enable dual-usage with the main runway. The approval process is expected to take about a year, and if successful, construction could begin in 2025.

Simple Flying | Related

Gatwick second runway moves closer – with airport challenging Heathrow - Independent

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70 orgs have already joined the new FTE WARWG

Future Travel Experience (FTE) has launched the FTE World Airport Retailing Working Group, bringing together airlines, airports, retailers, and other industry stakeholders to collaborate and drive positive change in the airport commercial space. Over 70 organizations have already joined the initiative. Sammy Patel, Vice President Commercial at Vantage Airport Group and CEO of Midway Partnership, has been appointed as the first Captain of the working group. The platform aims to identify and act upon opportunities to improve commercial offerings, strategies, and collaboration in the airport industry. The inaugural meeting will be held in September, followed by virtual and in-person meetings in the future.

Future Travel Experience | Related

10 technology trends that can enhance airline and airport operations in 2023 - Future Travel Experience

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ST Engineering gains traction for ACCESS accessible lavatory

ST Engineering has partnered with Acumen to develop an accessible lavatory solution called ACCESS that aims to provide more space for passengers with reduced mobility on narrowbody aircraft. The lavatory can be expanded to accommodate a passenger in a wheelchair and an accompanying caregiver, utilizing unused space during the flight. The innovative design features an extendable sidewall that can be moved into the galley, allowing for a 40% increase in floorspace. ST Engineering recently received EASA certification for the A320 family, and work is underway to make ACCESS available on the Boeing 737 platform. The solution has garnered interest from airlines looking to enhance accessibility and improve passenger experience.

Runway Girl | Related ST Engineering aerospace revenue sees strong Q1 recovery - Flight Global

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American Airlines Touts In-House Developed Weather Tech

American Airlines has introduced a computer program called HEAT (Hub Efficiency Analytics Tool) to optimize its flight operations during severe weather events and reduce cancellations. The program analyzes real-time data on weather conditions, flight occupancy, customer connections, gate availability, air traffic control, and crew constraints. Using an advanced algorithm, it dynamically adjusts flight schedules to prevent cancellations. Since its launch last year, HEAT has prevented over 1,000 flight cancellations, with American Airlines expecting its performance to improve further over time. The program is activated whenever there is a threat of weather disruption, ensuring operational efficiency and minimizing irregular operations.

Paddle your own Canoe | Related American Airlines wants $139mn in legal fees from Sabre - CH Aviation

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Cathay Pacific The Pier first class lounge opens this month

Cathay Pacific is preparing to reopen its esteemed first-class lounge, The Pier First, at Hong Kong International Airport. While an exact date has yet to be announced, sources suggest a mid-July reopening. The Pier First has long been a favorite among first-class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers, such as Cathay Diamond members and Oneworld Emerald equivalents. The move is part of Cathay's ongoing efforts to expand its fleet, increase flights, and restore destinations, aiming to reach 70% of pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2023. The reopening will complete Cathay's Hong Kong lounge portfolio following the recent relaunch of The Wing Business lounge. Additionally, Cathay is exploring the potential for a new flagship lounge and an arrivals lounge in response to the redevelopment of Hong Kong's Terminal 2, expected to open in 2024.

Executve Traveller | Related

Cathay Pacific revamps customer loyalty scheme, with travellers required to shell out nearly 30 per cent more ‘miles’ for some free tickets - SCMP

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today’s picture comes from Aviation Northern Ireland, showing an Aer Lingus ATR-72 in Manchester. UK. Use #APEXPOTD for the chance to be featured in the APEX Daily Experience newsletter!

> Tweet of the Day

New Member Alert! Welcome Franco Manufacturing Co. to the APEX family! @FrancoMfgCo creates inspiring, decorative & innovative products such as sheet sets, comforters, pillows, towels & more: http://bit.ly/3ptYf49 You can join APEX too: http://bit.ly/3NZHarY

APEX @theAPEXassoc

Association News

APEX/IFSA Global EXPO - Register now!

APEX/IFSA Global EXPO, co-located with FTE Global, is where the largest gathering of airline executives from around the world come together to network, forge new partnerships, share unique insights, collaborate and meet with the top exhibitors demonstrating the latest innovation and technology. Join us in Los Angeles for the most comprehensive end-to-end airline passenger experience marketplace in the industry from 19-21 September. Register now - Click here for more details.

Take Home an APEX/IFSA Award This Year – Nominations extended to Friday, 7 July

APEX & IFSA are proud to announce the return of the APEX/IFSA Awards program. Submissions are being accepted now across five awards categories: Best Inflight Connectivity, Best Inflight Entertainment, Best Cabin, Best Inflight Food or Beverage, and Best Onboard Amenity. Winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 20 September as part of the 2023 EXPO taking place in Long Beach, California. Submit your APEX/IFSA award nomination here.

> Quote of the Day

“We are very happy to now join forces with Norwegian, and we are excited to get an industry owner that aspires to develop both companies further. We are convinced that this solution is in the best interest of Widerøe, our employees, and not the least our customers”

Widerøe CEO Stein Nilsen
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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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