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November 30, 2021

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Today's Top Stories

APEX, Yates and Partners Introduce WORLD CLASS Rating

Together with aviation guest experience consultancy Yates and Partners, APEX has launched its WORLD CLASS rating based on issues that most concern twenty-first-century passengers, such as safety and wellbeing and sustainability. The first airlines to receive the rating are Emirates, Japan Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines. APEX/IFSA CEO, Dr. Joe Leader, commented, “This collaboration has accelerated the development of diagnostic and actionable audit processes that materialize in important changes.”

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APEX/IFSA 2021 Thought Leadership Conference Round-Up

During the 2021 APEX/IFSA EXPO Thought Leadership Conference, panelists discussed topics including low-Earth orbit in-flight connectivity as well as environmental sustainability. In the former session, Oneweb, Starlink and Telesat revealed how they were planning on bringing a huge amount of new capacity to airlines, while in the latter, speakers including Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh and managing director at Plug and Play Amir Amidi spoke about the need for airlines to do more to educate both passengers and the general public about their sustainability initiatives.

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APEX/IFSA Board of Governors Unanimously Vote on Four New Initiatives

The APEX/IFSA Board of Governors will focus on four initiatives for 2021-2022 including vaccinating their workforce to the fullest extent possible as long as COVID-19 is a threat to air travel and sharing ‎disruptive passenger data lists with one another in accordance with the law. They also agreed that Four-Star and Five-Star Airlines under the APEX Official Airline Ratings™ program will have to make their health safety ‎protocols and sustainability initiatives easily available to the public to qualify for future awards and to commit to making incremental improvements to their sustainability efforts each year.

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Oneweb, GDC Advanced Technology Team Up on Compact Antenna

OneWeb and GDC Advanced Technology are jointly developing a compact in-flight connectivity (IFC) terminal. Early ground testing has already taken place, with flight tests due to begin in early 2022 before the terminal is set to enter service in 2023. Based on electronically steered antenna technology developed by Ball Aerospace, it has been engineered to allow airlines to deploy a hybrid LEO/GEO connectivity solution. The terminal has an attenuated aerodynamic profile that produces virtually no drag, significantly reducing fuel burn compared with current fuselage-mounted antennas.

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Fly Baghdad Launches Moment’s Wireless IFE Solution

Iraq-based Fly Baghdad has launched Moment’s Flymingo Box wireless in-flight entertainment platform onboard three of its Boeing 737NGs and will shortly roll it out across its remaining two of the type. The system allows passengers to access digital content including movies, TV shows, news, flight information and a moving map from their personal devices. It will also enable the carrier to strengthen its existing retail offering with the option to introduce online duty-free shopping and in-flight menus. Fly Baghdad is now planning to introduce the platform onboard all new aircraft.

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SmartSky Launches ATG Network Operations for Regional Airlines

SmartSky Networks (SmartSky) has launched commercial operations of its air-to-ground (ATG) in-flight connectivity service for regional airlines across the Continental United States (CONUS). “The need for consistent, secure access to data and applications is constant, especially for regional passengers who are often traveling during the busy work week,” said David Helfgott, SmartSky Networks’ CEO. The network currently covers 65% of CONUS flight hours, but SmartSky expects this figure to rise to 80% by the end of this year and is hoping to achieve full CONUS coverage during the first half of 2022.

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Inmarsat Marks Five Years of GX Aviation

Inmarsat is celebrating five years since the entry into service of its GX Aviation in-flight connectivity service at APEX/IFSA EXPO 2021 this week. To date, the order book for the solution totals over 1,000 aircraft in addition to 550 that have already been activated. “We celebrate [GX Aviation’s] fifth anniversary with our world-class partner ecosystem, including industry-leading distributors such as Safran, SITA, Thales, Collins Aerospace and Honeywell,” commented Inmarsat Aviation’s president, Philippe Carette. The company is now gearing up for the launch of its first Inmarsat 6 satellite next month.

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> PHOTO OF THE DAY

A Singapore Airlines A350 taking off in front of an incredible view. Captured by @playmake.g

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

> Tweet of the Day

Commercial aviation needs to do much more to tell its sustainability story, panelists concur at the second @theAPEXassoc panel. @JetBlue carbon neutral on domestic flights & @united to spend $1 billion on carbon capture

Rick Lundstrom @ricklundl

> Quote of the Day

“Awards are hard to win, but they’re harder to lose, so that’s great motivation for us to keep improving.”

Patrick Brannelly, Emirates
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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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