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July 14, 2021

United, Mesa Invest in Heart Aerospace, Order 200 ES-19 Jets

United Airlines Ventures (UAV), Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Mesa Airlines have invested in Heart Aerospace, which is developing the ES-19 electric aircraft to fly up to 250 miles. United and Mesa have also conditionally agreed to purchase 100 ES-19s each. UAV and BEV are among the first to invest in Heart Aerospace, and the investment means the 19-seat ES-19 could enter the market as early as 2026. Once operational, it has the potential to operate on over 100 of United's regional routes, helping the airline achieve its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 100% by 2050 without carbon offsets.

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ThinKom Solutions Reveals New Phased-Array User Terminal

ThinKom Solutions has developed a low-profile, phased-array user terminal for operation in higher millimeter-wave (MMW) frequency bands. It weighs under 23 kilograms and requires less than 100 Watts of prime power; but provides the same functionality as two 50-centimeter diameter stabilized parabolic dish antenna radome enclosures. “This development is timed to enable the upcoming frequency revolution that promises to unlock massive new available bandwidth at higher MMW frequencies for next-generation LEO and MEO satellite constellations,” said Bill Milroy, chairman and CTO, ThinKom Solutions.

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Flydubai Reduces 737 MAX Order by 65 Aircraft

Flydubai has reduced its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft order with the OEM by 65 jets. "The airline has adjusted its aircraft orders which had been placed in 2013 and 2017," Boeing said. The change means that the carrier’s total order for 251 aircraft has decreased to 168. Flydubai has taken delivery of 16 737 MAX jets, including 13 737 MAX 8s and three 737 MAX 9s, since it was placed. The airline said the change follows "a review of ... fleet plans in line with the airline’s strategy of rebuilding the travel sector following the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing dynamics of the airline's route structure."

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Frankfurt Airport Adopts Omnevo’s Latest E-Commerce Solution

Frankfurt Airport has gone live with the latest version of Omnevo’s omnichannel e-commerce solution and its operator, Fraport AG, has extended its partnership with Omnevo for a further five years. In response to COVID-19, the cloud-based software-as-a-service solution has enabled online shopping to temporarily open to “non-flying guests,” with purchases delivered free of charge throughout Germany. “During the Corona crisis, Omnevo showed us how important a flexible digital marketplace solution and alternative sales channels really are in travel retail,” said Jens Paul, head of Retail and Digital at Fraport.

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SITA Acquires Safety Line

SITA has acquired Paris-based startup Safety Line following a commercial partnership between the companies that began in September 2020. Safety Line’s OptiFlight in-flight fuel efficiency solution, which uses machine learning performance models to optimize all flight phases, is already integrated with SITA’s Digital Day of Operations portfolio. Current customers include Air France, Transavia and Condor. Safety Line’s products also include AirsideWatch, which analyzes and optimizes aircraft movements at airports; and SafetyCube, which enables aviation stakeholders to manage their safety and compliance.

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Mirus Aircraft Seating to Build Aircraft Seating Test Facility

Mirus Aircraft Seating has received approval for a grant to build a 407 square-meter aircraft seating test facility at its Norwich, UK head office. The facility will feature a 30-meter-long dynamic test sled, which is a bespoke device used for destructive or non-destructive crash test replication. Ben McGuire, the company’s CEO, said, “This will improve our capabilities right across the business … It will give us the ability to develop new technologies at a much faster pace, allowing us to innovate and meet the specific needs of our discerning airline clients.” Construction will begin in September, with the opening scheduled for July 2022.

Inflight Online | Related TUI Group Signs With Mirus for Long-Haul Economy-Class Seats – APEX Media

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Eva Air Becomes First Asian Carrier to Test ICC AOKpass

EVA Air is to test the ICC AOKpass digital health passport for six weeks on flights between Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, San Francisco and Los Angeles, becoming the first Asian carrier to do so. Currently, travelers to and from Taiwan are required to take a PCR test 72 hours prior to departure. The AOKpass will allow EVA Air passengers to store the test results on their smartphones for verification at the airport. Etihad Airways and others have already piloted the health passport, which has been deployed on over 500 flights.

Business Traveller | Related AER LINGUS COMMENCES TRIAL OF IATA TRAVEL PASS – Aer Lingus

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

A Jet Airways Boeing 777 looking BOM! Captured by @vimanspotter.

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

> Tweet of the Day

Interesting discussion on the return of international air #travel at #FIAConnect. Willie Walsh DG of @IATA is in favour of a sensible risk-based approach to travel "We have to learn to live with the virus, like we do with all viruses."

Nick Dugdale-Moore @NickDMUFI

Association News

Don't Miss FlightPlan III: C-Suite Week, Beginning July 19

The first of five interviews to take place during FlightPlan III: C-Suite Week will air on July 19 at 1:00 p.m. BST featuring IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh. Walsh will be interviewed by the BBC's Aaron Heslehurst before an expert panel led by APEX/IFSA CEO, Dr. Joe Leader, will debate and discuss the content of the interview. Monday's panelists include Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras, Simple Flying Editor Joanna Bailey, and Inmarsat Aviation's President, Philip Balaam. Register now.

> Quote of the Day

"We are determined to create a spectrum of ideas-related documentaries through Ideas On Film, the imprint we created for our non-fiction explorations."

Irena Burton, Ideas Roadshow
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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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