APEX Experience 6.1 January/February by Spafax

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volume 6, edition 1 | january - february 2016

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s ha in re da o ur r m Bo y fo ny gr ho un nt h A rs hy ele W av tr official publication of the airline passenger experience association

GLOBAL AIRCONNECT Antenna System GEE's next gen antenna for its AIRCONNECT connectivity solution utilizes cutting edge design features including unparalleled 3-axis satellite pointing mechanism, proven mechanical micro-horn precision and unique oval shape for aerodynamics and reduced drag. The new antenna weighs only 90 lbs and will be available for installation June, 2016.

Revolutionary Design Unique 3-axis precision pointing mechanism making it the first to provide truly global coverage from a single antenna.

Future Proof Designed to form fit with existing antenna installations, retrofits in just four hours.Â Reverse compatible making upgrades easy. ARINC 791 compliant. Will be line-fit on 737/MAX/NG & 787.

Learn how GEE enhances your inflight experience at GEEmedia.com

Optimal Performance Mechanical micro-horn technology has superior electromagnetic characteristics that result in the highest levels of performance.

Bandwidth Instantaneous bandwidth across the full 2GHz Ku band provides both wide and spot beam capabilities to support additional services such as IPTV and Media Loading.

Ad Index

apex experience

Advertiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Directory Astronics Armstrong Aerospace www.astronics.com > See pages 21, 51 Astronics Corporation www.astronics.com > See page 84 Avid Airline Products www.avidproducts.com > See page 66 Axinom www.axinom.aero > See page 24 Bluebox Avionics www.blueboxavionics.com > See page 9 Bose Corporation www.bose.com > See page 87 Carlisle Interconnect Technologies www.carlisleit.com > See page 10 Dawson Media Direct www.dawsonmd.com > See bellyband Deutsche Welle www.dw.de > See page 42 digEcor www.digecor.com > See page 72 Donica www.donica.cn > See page 19 Emphasis Video Entertainment Limited www.emphasis-video.net > See page 42

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Entertainment in Motion www.skyfilms.com > See page 100 Eros Inflight Media Limited www.erosnow.com > See page 112 Geven www.geven.com > See page 44 Global Eagle Entertainment www.globaleagleent.com > See page 4 Gogo LLC www.gogoair.com > See page 23 GuestLogix www.guestlogix.com > See page 60 Inflight Peripherals www.ifpl.com > See page 58 and infographic Inmarsat www.inmarsat.com > See page 70 InflightDirect www.inflightdirect.com > See page 36 Jaguar Distribution Corporation www.jaguardc.com > See page 107 Kid Systeme GmbH www.kid-systeme.com > See page 14 Linstol www.linstol.com > See page 34

Visit us at apex.aero

volume 6, edition 1 january - february 2016

Long Prosper Enterprise Company www.longprosper.com > See page 62 Lufthansa Systems www.lhsystems.com > See page 38 Lumexis Corporation www.lumexis.com > See page 28 Panasonic Avionics Corporation www.panasonic.aero > See page 116 Paramount Pictures www.paramount.com > See page 2

Telefonix www.telefonixinc.com > See page 6 Turner Inflight Services www.turnerinflightservices.com > See page 111 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures www.ebvnt.disney.com > See page 105 Warner Bros. www.warnerbros.com > See page 96 Zodiac Inflight Innovatinos www.imsco-us.com > See page 48

Pascall Electronics www.pascall.co.uk > See page 40 Penny Black Media www.pennyblackmedia.com > See page 108 Phitek Systems Limited www.phitek.com > See pages 13 and 17 Skycast Solutions www.skycastsolutions.com > See page 26 Skyline IFE Limited www.skyline-ife.com > See page 76 Sony Pictures Releasing Corporation www.sonypicturesinflight.com > See page 98 Stellar Entertainment www.stellargroup.com > See pages 94-110, 115

Airline Passenger Experience Association

apex experience

People and Planes

Contents

volume 6, edition 1 january - february 2016

Personalization is crucial to our industry. It influences cabin design and the curation of in-flight entertainment. Entire airlines are dedicated to our travel preferences, be they adventurous or religious. Looking through this lens, it’s clear the passenger experience would be plain and impersonal if it weren’t for that special touch.

> Features

> IN Profile

illustrations: jorge de la paz photos: ncc, sita, Mehran Torgoley; Lumexis; Brent Winstone, Qantas photographer

Specialty Skies Whether you’re an intrepid explorer or crazy cat lady, there’s an airline out there for you. This multipart feature looks at unique airlines and their special passenger experiences.

56 Tony’s Grand Tour

54 Cathie Trotta Managing Director, Penny Black Media

Consumate foodie and world traveler, Anthony Bourdain’s brand of flying in the face of convention has earned him a loyal TV audience and increased the appetite of travelers hungry for authentic experiences. Katie Sehl

64 Rich Salter Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer, Lumexis

74 Smooth Operator Behind the scenes of airport and airline operations, SITA’s two command centers work to keep everything on track.

80 Jo Boundy Head of Digital and Entertainment, Qantas

Caroline Ku

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Contents

apex experience

Visit us at apex.aero

Comfort & Ambience Entertainment & Connectivity Catering & Services

volume 6, edition 1 january - february 2016

> Industry

37 Packing Power It’s a wireless world, and that applies to device charging, too. Fergus Baird

27 The Poetry of Space Reading between the lines sheds new light on passenger comfort.

39 Chat Channels

29 Cultural Embroidery LATAM brings color and culture together in its redesigned aircraft interiors. Jenn Wint

30 Rhapsodizing the Playlist

Airlines are hitting high notes with curated mixes.

Get the lowdown on which instant messaging platforms airlines are using to connect with passengers.

> APEX

> Standbys

15 CEO’s Letter

18 Publisher’s Letter

16 Board News

20 Featured Contributors

22 APEX in Action

34 Tear-Out Poster: Mind the Gap

88 - 91

Caroline Ku

APEX News

41 Personal

Touch

When airlines get up close and personal with passengers, an invaluable bond is forged. Katie Sehl

67 Roundtable: Streamlining Security New smart technology and stakeholder collaboration promises to make the security process a lot smoother.

IFSA News

> Listings

Jasmin Legatos

94 Movie Listings 8 Advertisers’ Index

Marty Sartini Garner

Howard Slutsken

35 Dreaming

Inside the Box

Affordable kits on the market are making VR a reality.

Travelogue: Nostalgia Trip A former ramp rat, now hobbyist pilot and aviation buff, shares his journey to becoming a full-fledged avgeek.

32 Buffering Up Streaming platforms are taking off on the ground, but in the sky there are strings attached.

Howard Slutsken

114

43 Food for Plot The right pairings of food and film may have passengers saying “I’ll have what she’s having.” Jason Kessler

Throwback: Missed Connections Please contact me, lovely woman with long dark hair Queretaro (QRO)

Flight CO2028

Houston (IAH)

Flirtatious flyers share their missed and made connections. Katie Sehl

Damien Caissie

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Airline Passenger Experience Association

photo: aribus; cristÓbal marambio; google; FCB Milan; maria laura benavente illustrations: mathias sielfeld; Óscar chÁvez; Ricardo Polo; felipe muhr

Katie Sehl

The best in-flight sound...

SKYfi club – Your mobile theatre Staying in touch and streaming content via smartphones, tablets and laptops are now top wishes for air travellers. And SKYfi is one of the most advanced and cost-effective ways to meet these demands – for satisfied passengers who keep coming back. Plus, SKYfi club lets you create personalised entertainment and information programmes streamed directly to passengers’ devices – for the ultimate in in-flight customisation.

KID-Systeme GmbH Lüneburger Schanze 30, D-21614 Buxtehude Phone +49 40 743 716 33 Fax +49 40 743 838 29 E-Mail info@kid-systeme.com

www.kid-systeme.com

CEO’s Letter

apex experience

Dear Fellow APEX Members, APEX’s leadership in airline passenger experience continues its unprecedented growth. Credit goes to countless airline and supplier members like you. We have fostered partnerships that increase APEX’s global role. In an industry first, APEX will be featured with an exclusive C-level airline event on Wednesday, April 6, during the peak of the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. At the 2016 APEX EXPO in Singapore this October, APEX will further extend its wings, creating the largest passenger-experience focused show ever conducted in Asia with three amazing expo shows under one roof: APEX EXPO, AIX Asia and Future Travel Experience Asia Expo. This approach serves APEX members and the industry by concentrating efforts around a singular show that cannot be missed and will be attended by thousands. APEX membership now encompasses every aspect of the passenger experience: on the ground, in the air, entertainment, comfort, cabin and connectivity.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Following efforts with Google and Facebook, APEX EXPO will feature an exclusive future technology pavilion demonstrating the newest technologies that will positively impact the airline passenger experience. APEX’s Technology Committee has teamed up with the Global Connected Aircraft Summit this summer to colocate events in Southern California, June 8-9. APEX will gain crucial exposure, and our members will have the benefit of hearing from airline executives, cybersecurity professionals, technologists and subject matter experts – a win-win for all involved. In July, APEX South America returns with a groundbreaking educational programming event in São Paulo, Brazil, to provide our Latin American-focused members an exclusive and in-depth look at regional market trends. APEX is now working toward the creation of APEX FlightTrack: a unique tool allowing airlines, studios and content providers monthly tracking across aircraft

worldwide. The creation of this type of platform demonstrates APEX’s commitment to its roots even as it expands its branches. As we reach a record number of global airlines and supplier members in 2016, we want to encourage your personal involvement. Our committees are powered by leaders like you. Leadership simply requires involvement and action in alignment with others. I look forward to working with each of you to propel APEX into the future – the sky is the limit! Please feel free to reach out to me with any feedback. My direct contact information, as well as that for all Board members, is listed at apex.aero. Best regards,

> Joe Leader chief executive officer

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Board News

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Visit us at apex.aero

Meet the Board

Virgin America

> Dominic Green secretary Inflight Dublin

> Linda Celestino immediate past president

> Brian Richardson vice president American Airlines

> Joan Filippini treasurer Paramount Pictures

> Jo Boundy Qantas Airways

Etihad Airways

board of directors meeting

apex expo 2016 colocation

The next APEX Board of Directors meeting will be held this March in New York City. Prior to the meeting, we hope you can join the Board for a member networking reception hosted by Terry Steiner International on the evening of Tuesday, March 1. Be on the lookout for an online registration link.

Based on member feedback, the Board voted to colocate the 2016 APEX EXPO with AIX Asia and FTE Asia Expo. Watch for updates on what’s sure to be one of our most impressive events yet! See page 90 for more information.

multimedia market in amsterdam > Kevin Bremer Boeing

> Michael Childers Lufthansa Systems

> Maura Chacko Spafax

The 2016 MultiMedia Market will no longer be held in Turkey, based on member feedback, due to unrest in the area. Please note the new dates and location, April 18-20 in Amsterdam, and see page 88 for more information about the event.

apex heart awards The APEX Heart Awards program was launched following EXPO to recognize heroes from each of your airlines. Watch for updates on APEX social media and within the APEX Daily Experience newsletter, and join us in thanking those who are changing the passenger experience, one passenger at a time.

> Éric Lauzon Air Canada

photos: Mehran torgoley

> Alfy Veretto president

The APEX Board of Directors is committed to keeping you, the APEX members, informed about ongoing Board work and decisions through transparency. In addition to this dedicated space in every issue of APEX Experience magazine, the Board sends e-mails after each quarterly meeting, sends direct e-mails to the membership and, at many events, hosts Ask the Board panels to receive feedback from members. APEX is an association for the members, by the members, which is why it’s equally important for the Board to receive year-round communications from members. Should you want to reach out to a member of the Board, a complete contact list, including e-mail addresses, is available on apex.aero.

> Ingo Wuggetzer Airbus

volume 6, edition 1

Airline Passenger Experience Association

...just got better Increase headphone performance by combining with Phitek connectors. Magnetic connectors will also significantly increase the life of the jack and eliminate pin breakage.

To discover more, visit us at Aircraft Interiors Expo Stand 4C11, or email info@phitek.com phitek.com

Publisher’s Letter

apex experience

Visit us at apex.aero

A Very Personal Issue At the center of each magazine we publish, each product development cycle, each airline journey and of course, our association, is the passenger. As we advance more sophisticated technologies and services, we’re collectively finding better ways to accommodate the varied profiles, groups, classes, cultures and friends who take to the skies.

process? In that case, why not have airports, airlines and technology providers work together to identify specific passengers for expedited service? Ultimately, this issue shows that standardization and unique experiences don’t have to be mutually exclusive. On a final note, I’m thrilled to announce that our own Katie Sehl has been promoted to editor of APEX Experience. Katie has been here since our very first days on this assignment, and during that time, she has been the author and architect of so much of our award-winning publication. The APEX Association will benefit greatly from her stewardship of our media.

> Al St. Germain publisher

illustration: Jorge de la Paz

A new year is upon us and the team at APEX Media is leaping into 2016 with a ton of excitement about what our members have in store for passengers around the world. The digital age has made product personalization and differentiation more achievable than ever. However, when it comes to the airline passenger, how many of us have been to a conference where a speaker notes that airlines generally fly “the same planes, at the same speeds, to the same cities?” Tailoring unique experiences for each passenger has always been viewed as a difficult process in a world that thrives on operational standardization and efficiency. Despite that dichotomy, many of our members are managing to find innovative ways to create strong connections with individual passengers. How does a customized in-flight magazine sound? TAM (now LATAM Airlines) found a way with a special issue of its OWNBoard magazine. Is the safe and comfortable experience of your pet your primary concern? Then why not opt for the services of Animal Airways? Looking for ways to streamline the security

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Airline Passenger Experience Association

Contributors

apex experience

Visit us at apex.aero

Featured

See Jorge’s work on the cover.

Read Caitlin’s work on page > 53

Jorge de la Paz is a designer and illustrator who hails from Santiago. He never travels anywhere without a camera, notebook and pencils. If he could choose anyone as his seatmate on his next flight, it would be his grandma. He owns the design studio corajeestudio.cl. Find him on Instagram: @jorgedelapaz.

Caitlin Stall-Paquet is a Montreal-based writer and translator. She’s a happy flyer so long as she can read on board. If she could sit next to anyone on a plane, it’d be Jon Stewart. When not working with APEX she writes for Air Canada’s enRoute, Vice, Matrix, Paste and more.

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APEX Experience Magazine 575 Anton Blvd, Ste 1020 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 +1 714 363 4900 > Publisher Al St. Germain al.stgermain@spafax.com Cover illustration by jorge de la paz

EDITORIAL

PRODUCTION

> Editor Katie Sehl katie.sehl@spafax.com

> Production Director Joelle Irvine > Production Manager Felipe Batista Nunes

> Digital Editor Jessica Sammut jessica.sammut@spafax.com

> Assistant Copy Editor Deanna Dority

> Copy Writer Caroline Ku caroline.ku@spafax.com

> Fact Checkers Tara Dupuis Leah Esau

> Digital Specialist Ari Magnusson

> Proofreaders Katie Moore Robert Ronald

> Research Assistant Ella Ponomarov

See María’s work on page > 43

Read Marty’s work on page > 30

María Laura Benavente is a photographer and craft artist. She brings her camera everywhere she goes, which is why she thinks it would be great if future aircraft had huge panoramic windows to snap photos from. She thinks H.P. Lovecraft or Andy Warhol would have made excellent seatmates.

Marty Sartini Garner is a Chicago-based music critic and senior editor of Los Angeles-based FLOOD Magazine, which means he spends most of his time listening to music on airplanes. He can’t travel without whatever thick novel the friends he went to grad school with are chatting about.

> Contributors Fergus Baird, Damien Caissie, Jason Kessler, Jasmin Legatos, Marty Sartini Garner, Maryann Simson, Howard Slutsken, Caitlin Stall-Paquet, Jenn Wint, Jordan Yerman ART

ADVERTISING > Sales Director Steve O’Connor steve.oconnor@spafax.com +44 207 906 2077 > Ad Production Manager Mary Shaw mary.shaw@spafax.com

> Art Director Nicolas Venturelli nicolas.venturelli@spafax.com

> Ad Production Coordinator Joanna Forbes joanna.forbes@spafax.com

> Graphic Designer Eva Dorsch

SPAFAX CONTENT MARKETING

> Contributors Javiera Acevedo, María Laura Benavente, Óscar Chávez, Cristóbal Marambio, Felipe Muhr, Jorge de la Paz, Ricardo Polo, Mathias Sielfeld, Gonzalo Toro

> President Raymond Girard > Senior Vice-President, Content Strategy Arjun Basu

content on the go

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Airline Passenger Experience Association

Social

apex experience

Visit us at apex.aero

APEX in Action The end of 2015 was busy for members, with APEX events happening simultaneously on opposite sides of the world. Members were seen mingling at APEX Asia in Singapore and at APEX TEC in Newport Beach.

Like us on Facebook to see more social photos > Facebook.com/ APEX.AERO

1. Mati Pouliot, Global Eagle Entertainment and Andy Fellows, Panasonic Avionics 2. Anh Tu Truong and Chicong Nguyen, Vietnam Airlines 3. Terry Revnak, Gogo 4. David Meyer, Qantas 5. Karanvir Singh, Kommworld Digitial Pvt. Ltd. 6. Anders Carlryd and Erik Dagermark, Ericsson AB 1

7. Mark Reed, IFPL and Brett Bleacher, Thales Avionics

8. Agnieszka Jacquemot, Axinom Aerospace 9. Steve Harvey, Global Eagle Entertainment 10. Albert Koval, Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem

Do you have social photos that are fit to print? E-mail submissions to 8

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> editor@apex.aero

Airline Passenger Experience Association

photos: Adrian Lee; mehran torgoley

The catalyst for advancing aviation While others are focused solely on the needs of your passengers, we’re focused on your entire business. We’re innovating new solutions to connect every aspect of airline operations – from passengers and crews, to maintenance teams and aircraft systems. That’s what you can expect when you partner with Gogo.

apex experience

Welcome

This Issue

photo: latinstock

Flying Flowers

The film Living in the Age of Airplanes tracks the three-day air journey of fresh flowers. Read about it at > apex.aero/living

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Tulips will be in full bloom when APEX MultiMedia Market delegates descend upon Amsterdam, April 18-20. While gaining competition from Kenya, Colombia and Ecuador, the Netherlands is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international hub for flowers, exporting some 80 percent of all bulbs traded worldwide. Most take for granted that the global fresh flower industry blossomed alongside aviation thanks to its ability to swiftly transport perishable blooms. But higher fuel costs and improved chilling technology may see ocean shipping overtaking flower transport by air. Read more about APEX MultiMedia Market on page 89. volume 6, edition 1

Skycast Solutions Fuels the Tablet Revolution with the Latest in Portable IFE. The most capable low cost portable IFE device is powered by Windows and flying high on Alaska Airlines.

Alaska needed a portable IFE solution that met the quickly changing demands of their customers and one that would integrate seamlessly with their connected cabin. They looked to Skycast, together with Microsoft and Toshiba, to develop a cutting edge device that packed robust capabilities along with a stunning entertainment experience.

Over 7,000 TrayVu8 devices are flying every day to rave reviews from passengers and flight attendants, alike.

Sophisticated user-interface including multi-tasking. Seamless Wi-Fi integration with onboard server or internet connection. Early window movies, TV, Xbox® games, music, maps, and much more. Complete program management available.

“The user experience is awesome and so easy and intuitive. This is truly the best inflight entertainment system we have ever used.” ~ John Lisicich, Long Time Alaska Frequent Flyer Proud Partners with:

The TabCaddyTM PED holder product line provides a range of solutions for personal devices!

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TabCaddy™ Swivel

Custom integration with seat-back.

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Pivots up/down and side to side for perfect viewing angle Very low cost - no installation or equipment change needed Can be sold for ancillary revenue

skycastsolutions.com | 1-855-487-2988 © Skycast Solutions, Inc. TabCaddy™ is exclusively distributed by Skycast Solutions, Inc. Patents Pending. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

apex experience

The Poetry of Space

Forget Wi-Fi and laptop chargers. For Asian travelers, key enablers of productivity are comfort and space – and concepts of spaciousness soar well past padding and inches, into the metaphysical.

photo: airbus

by Katie Sehl

Call it what you will – proxemics, individual territory or personal bubbles – it’s vital to keep in mind that the accepted boundaries for personal zones vary culturally, as space invasions are all too often a source of discomfort. With China, India and Japan poised to rank in the top five global economies by 2020, manufacturers such as Airbus are looking to the growing market of Asian travelers to reconfigure comfort-zone standards. Airline Passenger Experience Association

Comfort

More stats on personal space from the APEX Global Pax Survey at > apex.aero/ personalspace

To better understand preferences among Asian consumers, Airbus employed UK-based The Future Laboratory to conduct field research. On a scale that asked travelers to choose what factors influenced their overall sense of comfort – from bigger armrests to quiet zones – a wider seat significantly outranked other options. Increasing the width of a seat also improves a passenger’s sense of privacy and well-being, the report finds, which is key, because “Asians prefer privacy,” notes Sim Kim Chui, Product Innovation director, JPA Design, in the report. The most illuminating finding, however, is not on the nuances of space, but rather what travelers intend to do with it. For Asian travelers, notions of comfort are inextricably linked with productivity, but even if traveling for business, a productive flight is seen as one where they can relax, sleep and then work. “This was a revelation to us,” says Martin Raymond, cofounder, The Future Laboratory. “Normally in surveys like this

among Western flyers, travelers cite wider seats as a way to improve their productivity – and few would regard sleep in itself as being productive.” It’s no surprise that the same sleep-deprived nations that created sleeperies and nap pods, and perfected the art of inemuri – Japanese for “being present while sleeping” – are more likely to be onboard with sleeping than travelers from elsewhere (81 percent in Asia versus 68 percent globally, APEX’s 2015 Global Passenger Survey finds). But it is surprising that, unlike the North American stigma against even the most powerful of power naps, catching a few winks is not only viewed as less taboo, it’s resourceful. “An Asian traveler’s sense of comfort is as much linked to the spirit, the emotions and indeed the poetry of space as it is to the additional inches they are being offered,” says Raymond. Indeed, cultural learning moments like these underscore the importance of reading between the lines. volume 6, edition 1

AN EYE TO THE

FUTURE LUMEXIS.COM

The Future of IFE

apex experience

Cultural Embroidery Drawing from South America’s vibrant cultural landscapes, LATAM’s cabin interiors weave place and personality into design.

Production: Javiera Acevedo, Gonzalo Toro

by Jenn Wint photo Cristóbal Marambio

Vibrant fabrics, sun-kissed hues and rich earthy tones compose the palette of colorful imagery that frequently lures international travelers to visit the diverse cultures of South America. As the leading airline group in Latin America, following the merging of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines in August 2015, LATAM’s ongoing rebrand aims to fly the colors of its continent’s cultures around the world. “We selected indigo and coral as the main colors for LATAM,” explains

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Rajmin Hessin, director of Corporate Identity for LATAM Airlines Group. “The first represents the best of both worlds, as it falls between red and blue, the main brand colors for LAN and TAM. The second symbolizes energy and passion, essential attributes of the new brand.” For the cabin makeover, the airline collaborated with international design firm PriestmanGoode, which embarked on an extensive research trip throughout South America. All new Airbus A320 and A321 short-haul aircraft feature interiors and seats with vivid accent colors set against a natural palette. Capped with a caliente-red headrest, the seats incorporate four neutral shades in leather textures and fabrics, balanced with a sharp indigo stripe across the middle. Wooden floors and foils that lend panels a textured timber effect give a

Ambience

See how LATAM carries the thread through to its lounges at > apex.aero/ culturalembroidery

nod to the Amazon and complement the textiles, fusing traditional materials with modern design. “The fabric, textures, colors and patterns are reminiscent of the beautiful landscapes of our region. Even the iconic beaches of Ipanema [Rio de Janeiro] were a source of inspiration for the cabins,” says Hessin. Custom artwork installed on the back walls and magazine racks brings sea and oceanic blues, rain forest greens, and beachy yellows and oranges into the cabin through woven textures and patterns. The design is in the details, too: The Latin-inspired array of hues brightens each seat with a tiny accent tag on the lower left of the headrest. The rebranding of the LATAM Airlines Group will be ongoing over the next three years and will see aircraft, lounges, commercial offices, web pages and uniforms spun anew.

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Entertainment

apex experience

Rhapsodizing the Playlist

Visit us at apex.aero

Listen to Bif Naked’s in-flight playlist at > apex.aero/ bifnaked

On entertainment systems awash with choices, a finely tuned playlist has the potential to strike a chord with passengers. by Marty Sartini Garner | illustration Mathias Sielfeld

The way we consume music is always changing. While algorithm-based web-radio services were, for a while, a helpful guide through the millions upon millions of songs we suddenly had access to, they fundamentally lacked a sense of intention. Playlists thoughtfully curated by music experts – now a standard component of both Google’s and Apple’s music-streaming services – offer a more meaningful experience. Like the set of any decent DJ, a curated playlist doesn’t deliver what you already know so much as it educates, delights and surprises – all of which are crucial to successful in-flight entertainment. Last year, American Airlines passengers took to social media to share their delight on hearing a select indie playlist featuring less mainstream

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artists such as M83 and Jens Buchert during boarding and arrival. “So there I was on @AmericanAir, just landed at JFK and @JackPenate “Pull My Heart Away” comes on on the plane. Nice surprise,” writes one Twitter user. A purposefully curated music selection can help to relieve some of the tedium of a long-haul flight, both for novice listeners (who might find themselves especially receptive to new sounds) and for experts. British Airways also found success after recruiting big names like Mick Jagger, Brian Eno and Rufus Wainwright to introduce passengers to playlists featuring their favorite up-and-coming artists. But it goes beyond the listener experience. Airlines that know how to put together a playlist also subtly

A purposefully curated music selection can help to relieve some of the tedium. define themselves as trustworthy travel companions. They present the brand as not only being the right choice to carry you from one place to another, but as a congenial guide to the world you find upon arrival. With the multitude of songs listeners have at their disposal, that’s a role that’s needed now more than ever.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Entertainment

apex experience

Buffering Up

Visit us at apex.aero

Read Jeff Crawford’s APEX Direct op-ed at > APEX.AERO/ JEFFCRAWFORD

On-the-ground consumer trends have always influenced in-flight entertainment models, but when it comes to bringing streaming-based subscription services up high, terms and conditions may apply. by Howard Slutsken | illustration Óscar Chávez

The appetite for binge-friendly streaming services like Netflix, Amazon or Hulu, over expensive cable or satellite TV packages, appears to be insatiable. “Streaming video has grown at such a rapid pace in North America that the leading service in 2015, Netflix, now has a greater share of traffic than all of streaming audio and video did five years ago,” says Dave Caputo, CEO of Sandvine, a broadband network solutions provider. Based on a recent Sandvine study, real-time entertainment streaming now accounts for more than 70 percent of evening Internet traffic in North America. According to an ITU/United Nations study, 43 percent of global households now have Internet access, and over 95 percent of the world’s population is now covered by mobile-cellular services,

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with an estimated 3.5 billion mobilebroadband subscriptions. In-flight entertainment has seen a similar evolution, from a single movie displayed throughout the cabin to a small selection of titles available on a seatback display, and then to a library of content stored in onboard servers, distributed to high-definition screens or personal electronic devices. Now, high-bandwidth connectivity brings the potential of streaming unique content to every seat. Passengers want to take control, and match their ground-based viewing experience by accessing their subscription services in flight. ViaSat, Gogo and Inmarsat provide but three of the emerging satellite technologies that will give passengers streaming access to their subscription services. Already available over North

America, Amazon Prime members flying on JetBlue can stream content, and Virgin America passengers are beginning to binge-watch programs from the Netflix library, either by logging in or signing up via a free 30-day trial. As more high-power satellites become operational, along with new-technology antenna installations and upgrades, worldwide in-flight streaming will become a reality. But that reality comes at a cost, both for an airline and its passengers. “Obviously, the bandwidth to stream this type of content, possibly highdefinition, can be quite costly, depending on the network being used. Some airlines and subscription services might end up footing the bill for the passenger access, but this will most likely not be the norm,” Jeff Crawford,

Airline Passenger Experience Association

senior vice-president of Non-Theatrical Sales, Warner Bros., tells APEX Media in an exclusive op-ed. “Passengers may balk at paying as much or more to access their accounts as they would pay for a first-run movie ticket. What about the passengers who do not already have a subscription service? Are they left out in the cold?” Perhaps not, says Shane Mitchell, chief digital officer for Singapore-based MediaCorp. “One idea is to provide a free or lite version of service for passengers, or a one-journey subscription. Part of the success of subscription services has been their personalization and wide choice, so it’ll be important that any free or lite version of a service doesn’t lose its coherence as an offering,” says Mitchell. On the ground, subscription services are starting to install servers containing full copies of their libraries with key Internet service providers in order to reduce bandwidth bottlenecks and costs. A variation of this model could appear on airplanes, but it would still face challenges, explains Mitchell. The ground-based units “hold around 200 terabytes, or eight years of video, in a box weighing under 60 kilograms, but with library changes amounting to several terabytes a day, keeping them updated would still demand high bandwidth either in the air or on the apron,” he says. Beyond technical difficulties, Jeff Crawford says that this concept changes the licensing model. “Passengers accessing their regular

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Entertainment

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One in se americ ven a ns i a cable s cord c utter. Source:

Pew Re

Center

paid-for subscriptions on their personal devices while using the airline’s Wi-Fi network are more than likely for personal use rather than a public performance,” he explains. “If a subscription service such as Amazon or Netflix wants to distribute its services via an existing onboard system or install its own server on an aircraft, it is no longer a home-entertainment type of situation and there would need to be a non-theatrical public performance license for such a product.” Sometimes the technological genie escapes from the bottle, giving us capabilities that can’t yet be fully exploited – at least until the content owners come to terms with the latest tech.

“What about the passengers who do not already have a subscription service? Are they left out in the cold?” Jeff Crawford Warner Bros.

volume 6, edition 1

Mind the gaps The passenger experience we know today was built on the needs of aging baby boomers. But younger generations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; millennials and Gen Xers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are boarding at accelerating rates, and are bringing their hightech expectations with them. by Caroline Ku, Nicolas Venturelli and Katie Sehl illustration Jorge de la Paz infographics Clara Prieto

Sponsored by

Mind the Gap Millennial Born with technology at their fingertips, this gen will research travel fares, book on mobile, prioritize Wi-Fi and charging stations – and are prone to ranting on social media about negative experiences. They’re more willing to fly on a low-cost-carrier, but may shell out for last-minute upgrades. Millennial Gen Xer Baby Boomer Average value of a domestic trip:

Gen Xer Top destinations: 30%

Europe

28%

Caribbean

23%

Asia

Travel for pleasure: 77%

Median number of Facebook friends:

While born during the hippie era, this generation prefers to stay close to home and may even rather a road trip over a flight. Family comes first so they’ll likely travel over school holidays, and they’ll be looking for special package deals as saving money is a huge priority for this generation. Millennial Gen Xer Baby Boomer

250

Average value of a domestic trip:

55%

$6,200

Average value of an international trip:

$7,800

say they have shared a selfie

75%

have an account on a social networking site

$3,700

Average value of an international trip:

$8,500

75% of millennials use travel apps

75% value experiences over material objects.

60% of millennials feel that experiences are better when shared on social media.

Age in 2016

19-35 Millennial Born: 1981-1997

70% Nearly seven in 10 experience FOMO (fear of missing out, usually in relation to connectivity).

Despite being penny-wise, on average, Gen Xers will spend the most money per day while traveling.

Age in 2016

36-51 Generation Xer Born: 1965-1980

Sources: APEX Global Passenger Survey, Pew Research Center, The Boston Consulting Group, Hipmunk, Shullman Research Center, Eventbrite, Skift, MMGY Global, AARP, Lab42

Baby Boomer Top destinations: 32%

Europe

22%

Caribbean

21%

Canada

Travel for pleasure: 78%

Median number of Facebook friends:

Entering the senior bracket, this demographic will think twice before traveling too far – especially since they’re likely traveling with prescription medication of some sort. They’re primarily looking for relaxing summer vacations, weekend getaways or trips with the family. Millennial Gen Xer Baby Boomer

200

Average value of a domestic trip:

24%

50%

$2,900

Average value of an international trip:

$7,400

59% of Generation X travelers book their vacation travel at least six months in advance.

61% 48% 33%

Europe Caribbean Canada

Travel for pleasure: 82%

Median number of Facebook friends:

123

say they have shared a selfie

have an account on a social networking site

Top destinations:

55% will only travel domestically. Most likely to pack:

69% Prescription medication 47% Comfortable shoes 41% Camera 40% Sunglasses Age in 2016

52-70 Baby Boomer Born: 1946-1964

say they have shared a selfie

33%

have an account on a social networking site

69% say prescription medication is the item they are most likely to pack.

CONNECTING YOUR PASSENGERS IFPL.COM

IFPL.COM

innovate@ifpl.com TELEPHONE +44 (0)1983 555900

WS .. BREAKING NE . . . S W E N G N ..BREAKI t back ring NFC sea IFPL delive inal payment term ards for credit c t n e m y a p C F Easy N allets and mobile w t tap to use - jus y s a e d n a e l Simp e board revenu Maximise on and sonalisation Combines per ne unit payment in o

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Entertainment

Dreaming Inside the Box Cardboard has taken virtual hold of the travel industry, proving that high tech doesn’t have to come at high costs. by Damien Caissie

Volvo has taken a similar approach. The automotive company’s app offers consumers a chance to virtually testdrive its newly unveiled XC90. On the hospitality end, Marriott, partnering with Samsung, has seized on VR’s potential for enriching travelers’ stays through the launch of VR Postcards. Guided narrative tours of far-flung locales from Chile to Beijing are available as immersive journeys, giving guests the chance to experience the story as their own. Inexpensive options like Google Cardboard allow brands to give customers a compelling taste of adventure. The travel industry’s eager adoption of VR acknowledges that travelers crave novelty, and while solutions that rely on smartphone tech may not be sophisticated enough to be used for in-flight entertainment – especially for those prone to motion sickness, it’s only a matter of time before the high-tech and consumer worlds collide.

photos: google

Virtual reality (VR) has long been considered an explosive new medium just waiting to catch on. Prohibitive costs – Oculus Rift retails for around $500 – have left headsets in the hands of hobbyists and niche markets; but recent debuts of affordable alternatives, such as Google

Cardboard, are poised to turn VR into a mass-market reality. Used in conjunction with a smartphone and costing as little as $20 for an assembly kit, Google’s offering lets consumers create and customize their own headsets. Travel brands are diving in. Air New Zealand is offering 1,000 free Google Cardboard VR headsets to promote a virtual tour of its fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs. Kathryn Robertson, the airline’s general manager in the UK and Europe, touts passengers’ ability to “virtually step on board our aircraft and experience all three cabins and learn about our product in a new and unique way.”

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Packing Power As we charge toward a cable-free future, how will inductive powering rewire aircraft interiors and the passenger experience?

photos: Panasonic Avionics, finavia.fi, smarttray

by Fergus Baird

Wireless charging technology is gradually making its way to aircraft in the form of tech-enabled seating and fold-down tables, promising to transform how passengers charge up during flight. At the Consumer Electronics Show this year, Panasonic Avionics displayed Waterfront, a businessclass seat that offers the functionality, and at APEX EXPO 2015, Astronics and SmartTray International debuted a fold-down tray table with a charging feature. Cordless charging may soon be the standard, but the wireless revolution hasn’t taken to the skies just yet. Until then, the majority of flyers will only encounter the devices at select airports. PowerKiss, a Finland-based company, partnered with SSP to offer wireless charging tables at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, in addition to 30 more European airports. Delta Air Lines has installed Airline Passenger Experience Association

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WildCharge pads in its business lounges, allowing travelers to charge low-power devices like cell phones and tablets. In the consumer electronics market, just about everything packs a charge now. From wireless charging ties to backpacks to lamps, almost anything can be equipped to give your devices a boost – which means travelers could be packing their own power on flights and at airports, too. As with most wireless technology, there’s the question of safety, but so far, wireless charging seems to be largely risk-free. QInside’s electromagnetic induction charging has been used in electronic toothbrushes for years without any known effects on human health, while uBeam’s energy transfer is no more harmful than an ultrasound. How do wireless chargers work? Most must be charged before use; once powered, they electromagnetically transfer stored electricity to another device. Currently, the power transfer requires close proximity between charger and device and is quite slow, but the technology is rapidly improving. Lockheed Martin has already patented drones powered electrically from the ground via laser transfer, and uBeam has developed the means to send energy up to 15 feet using ultrasonic waves. As wireless charging becomes commonplace, passengers are going to expect the same level of convenience during travel. Given the relative ease of application, it may be an arms race to see who and what will pack the most power.

Connectivity

PowerKiss wireless charging at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems’ SmartTray X1 device holder with integrated wireless charging.

▸ 16%

of respondents to a recent IHS study say they use wireless charging every day.

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IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

BoardConnect Portable A full-scale IFE. Light. A fraction of the space, a fragment of the weight at a portion of the cost. BoardConnect Portable gives you an even simpler, more flexible, all in one solutions for low-cost operations. Based on rugged Mobile Streaming Units (MSU), server und access points are combined in one single device with a weight of no more than 1 kg. Plus, it is classified as loose equipment. Slip it into a frame at the wall and provide streamed content for up to 50 clients. Lufthansa Systems GmbH & Co. KG | Corporate Marketing | Am Prime Parc 1 | 65479 Raunheim info@LHsystems.com | www.LHsystems.com

Services

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Snapchat

The world’s most popular messaging app Founded: 2009, California, US

Video messenger popular for its ephemeral “snaps” that disappear after being viewed

Founded: 2011, California, US

MAUs: 900 million

Founded: 2011, California, US

MAUs*: 800 million

Noteworthy: Prominent where instant messaging is cheaper than texting, and in emerging markets like India, Brazil and Mexico, where many first-device owners aren’t tied to existing social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

MAUs: 200 million

Facebook Messenger Messaging app spun off from Facebook that aims to usurp texting

Noteworthy: Facebook has teased the impending integration of M, a part-human intelligence, part-algorithms virtual assistant, with airlines as an early test bed. Users will be able to receive flight itineraries and notifications through Messenger and, if needed, allow M to reschedule their flight. The app recently integrated with Uber, with signs of more collaborations to come. Popular in: Worldwide, but especially in Active on Facebook Messenger: KLM

LINE Japan’s all-in-one, sticker-crazed social networking app Founded: 2011, Japan MAUs: 212 million Noteworthy: Its name refers to the communication lines that were formed after the disaster of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. By encouraging users to follow brands for a chance to score coupons, presents and prizes, LINE’s ad-funded business model has flourished, enticing companies like Coca-Cola and the Sukiya fast-food chain to become partners.

Popular in: Worldwide Active on WhatsApp: KLM, Transavia

Popular in: Active on Snapchat: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Virgin America, WOW Air

Chat Channels Communicating to passengers around the world requires more than speaking their language – it’s also about using the right messaging app. by Caroline Ku

WeChat China’s answer to IM-ing and social networking, referred to nationally as Weixin Founded: 2011, China MAUs: 650 million Noteworthy: Contains 10 million thirdparty apps that allow users to manage banking, hail cabs, book flights and check the news. Popularized the “Hold to Talk” feature, optimized for Chinese-language users because it’s faster than typing. To extend its reach, WeChat hopes to woo the WhatsApp majority in Africa. Popular in:

Popular in: Active on LINE: All Nippon Airways, Thai Airways

Noteworthy: Part of Snapchat’s appeal is that it doesn’t require a phone number to create an account. The app’s Discover platform provides constantly fresh content and advertising from users’ favourite brands, including Vice, MTV and ESPN.

QQ China’s instant messaging platform, predecessor of WeChat

mostly, but also in

Active on WeChat: AirAsia, Air China, Air France, British Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Jeju Air, KLM, Lufthansa, SkyTeam, South African Airways, Spring Airlines

Founded: 2009, China MAUs: 780 million

KakaoTalk The all-in-one social networking app of South Korea Founded: 2010, South Korea MAUs: 48 million Noteworthy: KakaoTalk has a 79 percent stronghold on smartphone users in South Korea but little success outside the country. It hopes to enter markets in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines that aren’t loyal to any one messaging app. Popular in: Active on KakaoTalk: Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, KLM, Korean Air

Noteworthy: QQ was China’s primary instant messaging platform prior to WeChat. Despite their similarities as all-inone apps with travel booking and payment features, they coexist independently under the Tencent umbrella. QQ’s international app is available in English, French, Japanese, Spanish, German and Korean with real-time in-line translation of more than 50 languages. Popular in: Active on QQ: Air China, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Capital Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China West Air, Emirates, EVA Air, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Lucky Air, Okay Airways, Shandong Air, Shenzen Air, Spring Airlines, Tianjin Air, Xiamen Air

Kik A mobile messaging app with aspirations of becoming the WeChat of the West Founded: 2009, Canada MAUs: 200 million Noteworthy: Kik gained popularity among phone-less teenagers because it doesn’t require a phone number to create an account. In-app bots dish advice on topics such as fashion, pro football and what random funny videos to watch. Popular in: Active on Kik: No airlines, yet

*Monthly active users

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Reliable Airborne Power

Applications for Pascall Power Solutions High Power USB Satcom DBS TV Seat Actuation Pascall Electronics Limited Tel: +44 (0)1983 817300 www.pascall.co.uk

Seat Displays Media Servers Cellular Comms Cabin Lighting AS9100 : REV C ISO9001 : 2008 ISO14001 : 2004

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Personal Touch

Services

Watch the related videos at > apex.aero/ personaltouch

Airlines are getting up close and personal with passengers in special campaigns, and it’s paying off. by Katie Sehl

Flying can be a rather impersonal experience. Machines replace humans at check-in and bag drop, hard-boiled agents file you through security assembly lines and, as you reach your window seat, you apologetically tell your seatmate “I’m 15A,” so they can let you by. But when travelers boarded the anniversary flight of TAM Airlines (now LATAM Airlines Group) from Milan to São Paulo last year, things were different. At each seat, passengers were met with a glossy picture of themselves, smiling back at them from the front cover of the in-flight magazine. Inside, they discovered articles tailored to their

Passenger interests found via Facebook

“The secret is to start from the passenger, not from the brand.” Fabio Teodori FCB Milan

Unique magazine made for each pax

Magazines shipped to the airport Distribution

photos: FCB Milan

Copies matched with seating plan

Passengers shared their delight

Airline Passenger Experience Association

interests. An avid knitter, Isabella in 28G got a feature on guerrilla knitting, the kitschy phenomenon that sees urban objects craftily spun with yarn. In 16A, a Napoli soccer club fan was reassured with the headline “Don’t worry Marlon, Hamsik is fine and will play on Sunday.” In collaboration with FCB Milan, the airline asked passengers to connect with Facebook during the online purchase process, which gave them access in order to research each traveler’s preferences, likes and places they love. In other words, FCB Milan used Facebook to make face books. “The secret is to start from the passenger, not from the brand,” says Fabio Teodori, executive creative director,

FCB Milan, and leader of the three-month OwnBoard magazine project. During the flight, the airline saw a 1,200 percent increase in the time passengers spent reading the magazine. Not surprisingly, every flyer took the magazine home. TAM isn’t the first airline to see value in personal touches. In 2014, KLM surprised passengers with notes from loved ones on seat headrests in a campaign called Cover Greetings. And in 2010, the airline asked attendants to browse Twitter and Foursquare for travelers who mentioned they were taking a KLM flight. As passengers arrived, they were a given a unique gift, such as a Nike+ strap for a Rome-bound hiker. The campaign yielded more than one million impressions on Twitter. “It is important to note though, that personalized marketing stunts are usually one-offs, as they are difficult to maintain consistently on a large scale,” says Marco Serusi, senior consultant at SimpliFlying. To stay up close and personal long term, Serusi recommends airlines invest in technology that facilitates personalization.

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Apex 1-2 Hor.indd 1

2015-10-26 2:15 PM

Discover the secrets of European cuisine DW takes you to Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s best restaurants on Euromaxx Ă la carte

Deutsche Welle | 53110 Bonn | Germany ife@dw.com

dw.com

Catering

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Food for Plot Forecasts suggest that the next in-flight screening of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will be enhanced with a side order of meatballs. by Jason Kessler | photo and papercraft by María Laura Benavente

Films and food have gone together since popcorn first appeared in movie theaters during The Great Depression. More than 80 years later, food isn’t just a snack anymore – sometimes it’s the star of the show. In movies like Chef and Big Night, kitchens serve as the main sets, and beautiful plates of dry-aged rib eyes are the ingenues. As such, it should come as no surprise that theatergoers leave the cinema with a hefty appetite.

For more catering news, visit > APEX.AERO/ CATERING

According to George Motz, creator of The Food Film Festival, “A film with beautiful shots of food, a.k.a. food porn, will always make people hungry.” Restaurants and movie theaters on the ground know this all too well. Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn’s ultra-hip Williamsburg neighborhood calls itself “New York’s original cinema eatery” for its gourmet concessions program; the theater’s culinary team even creates dishes specifically to pair with the movies shown. For Steven Spielberg’s latest Cold War spy thriller, Bridge of Spies, they offered “The Spielburger,” a cheeseburger with sauerkraut and Russian dressing that served as a gustatory tribute to the American, German and USSR themes of the film. As the cinemas of the sky, airlines are in a perfect position to take advantage of this connection between food and film. Why not combine the two and offer

an elevated experience by pairing snack boxes with films? Other terrestrial foodie trends have taken off on board, seeing airlines such as Lufthansa, Qatar and Cathay Pacific offering specialty cuisine and turning to acclaimed chefs to tailor top-notch menus. On its first flight from Tokyo to Vancouver in October 2015, All Nippon Airways’ Star Wars-themed airplane brought the film frenzy close to passenger palates with R2-D2-inspired cups and napkins. Think of the fun food and beverage departments can have by offering a lasagna entrée on flights showing The Godfather trilogy, or a fun candy package to go along with a screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Those cinematic culinary combos could easily lead to increased onboard revenue – and that’s enough to give any airline a very healthy appetite.

Perfect Pairings We asked Tory McPhail, James Beard-award winning chef of the legendary Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, about the films that inspire him to chow down and the cravings they prompt.

movie: Pulp Fiction

pairing: A Quarter Pounder with Cheese Based on the conversation where they talk about American hamburgers being called a “Royale with cheese” in France.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

movie: Beetlejuice

pairing: Shrimp Cocktail Inspired by the way the shrimp cocktail comes to life during the “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” scene.

movie: The Hundred-Foot Journey

pairing: Egg Omelet The perfect egg omelet is the test of a true chef, according to the film.

volume 6, edition 1

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Specialties

Skies Legacy, leisure or low-cost not fit your air travel needs? There are other airlines that can cater to your unique preferences â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a voyage to the Far North, a allergy-free cabin or a penchant for pink. illustration Jorge de la Paz

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Northern Connections by Maryann Simson

The 10,750 Inuit inhabitants of Northern Quebec’s remote Nunavik region rely almost exclusively on aircraft to import food and other supplies, and to travel between communities. There are no road links at all between Nunavik – an area larger than California sitting completely above the 55th parallel – and Southern Quebec. In the frigid winter and spring seasons, any shipping lanes that might service the area are frozen over, cutting off Nunavik’s 14 core communities (ranging from 2,375 to just 195 people) from the rest of the world and each other. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement of 1975 saw the Inuit of Nunavik (a name meaning “Great Land”) gain increased political autonomy from the Canadian government and receive a monetary settlement. The people of Nunavik reinvested much of that money into the creation of an airline, owned in full by the Makivik Corporation. “The airline was created in 1978 so the Inuit people could control their own destiny,” says Pita Aatami, president and CEO of Air Inuit. “They needed to

regulate high transport costs and create employment. Most of all, though – since there are no roads leading into any of our communities – we needed the airplanes as our taxis, our buses and our ambulances. It’s our way of getting to the outside world.” Air Inuit is still owned by the Inuit people of northern Quebec. In every way possible, the airline provides assistance to its owners and customers alike to help stimulate the economy, promote trade and maintain autonomy and regional mobility. New business owners, for example, can apply for discounted cargo rates during their first year of operation and receive reduced seat prices to accompany goods transported. “Doing business in the North is about twice as expensive as in the more developed South,” Aatami explains. “In the South, you can rent a facility for your company, but here you must build everything from the ground up, and the building supplies come from the south. We try to make it a little easier for entrepreneurs to travel south and purchase the goods they need to get started while maintaining a profitable business ourselves. It is a challenge.” For the rest of the Nunavik Inuit community, flight discounts of 75 percent are available up to three times each year. These fares are aimed at providing

Air Inuit Air Inuit’s in-flight magazine invites flyers to learn about the Nunavik region and culture. It’s written in three languages: English, French and Inuktitut.

financial relief to passengers and preserving the integrity of the culture by enabling Inuit to stay in touch with one another. Air Inuit also supports numerous community organizations, educational programs, youth athletic training and cultural events, and always considers Inuit people first in hiring practices. Despite the small and widely dispersed community it serves, Air Inuit operates a remarkably large fleet of 24 aircraft on scheduled routes and charter flights. Each aircraft is fit for purpose, and some are even specially adapted for the bracing cold, unique cargo requirements and difficult terrain of the Far North. “We have two 737-200s that are the only jet aircraft in the world able to land on gravel airstrips,” says Aatami.

“Nunavik starts here.” 46

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Bearskin Airlines

photos: Air inuit - Marc Lajeunesse; bearskin airlines

Playing on its proximity to the North Pole, the airline often runs contests near Christmastime, including the digital Reindeer Radar Holiday Contest.

“Deflectors at the nose of the airplane and pressurization in front of the engines stop small rocks from being ingested. There is also a special coating on the belly of the jet. We also have some Dash-8 300s (aircraft designed for extremely short takeoffs and landings), which we engineered together with Bombardier to have 45 seats instead of 50 – so they can carry up to 4,000 pounds of cargo.” Twin Otters (which can be equipped with skis and floats) and King Air 100s serve shorter routes and smaller communities with shorter airstrips, and Air Inuit is currently working with Bombardier to customize a new Dash-8 with an oversized cargo door to transport large items like snowmobiles and prefab structures. Despite operating in an isolated region, Air Inuit continually strives for excellence in safety and service. The airline has sleek and comfortable cabin interiors, its own magazine, a modern web portal and a beautiful livery design (the orange and white interlacing geese have won several design accolades). Air Inuit caters longer flights with full hot meals from Culinair’s Montreal kitchen and serves bannock, a regional staple food, on many shorter legs. The airline is currently evaluating how to bring streaming in-flight entertainment (IFE) onto its aircraft.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Similar to Air Inuit in Quebec, Bearskin Airlines was established in Northern Ontario in 1963 to make remote settlements more accessible. Bush pilot and founder Otto John Hegland also had a general store near Bearskin Lake (hence the name) and needed a way to keep it stocked with fresh groceries from the south. Bearskin has since grown from a Tiger Moth biplane operation to a small yet sophisticated airline. It benefits from the operational efficiency of a full fleet of 19-seater, twin-turboprop Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners. The airline has 12 destinations, with routes taking passengers as far east as Winnipeg, Manitoba, as far north as Red Lake, Ontario, and as far south as North Bay – which is a three-and-ahalf-hour drive from Toronto. “Bearskin Airlines plays a key role in serving the business community in smaller Northern Ontario centers, connecting these remote cities to the world by our Thunder Bay and Winnipeg hubs,” says Ron Hell, Bearskin’s director of Marketing and Sales. “We offer interline e-ticketing with Air Canada and Delta Air Lines, and distribute our schedules and fares through all the major global reservation systems.” The Metroliner is not really set up for elaborate catering or other onboard services (like lavatories), but according to Hell, there is one big perk for those who fly with Bearskin: “With our two-row, center-aisle configuration, everybody gets a window and an aisle seat!”

“Let the Bear take you there!”

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ZODIAC INFLIGHT INNOVATIONS ZODIAC CABIN Connected Cabin Division

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Unchartered Territory by Katie Sehl

What airline offers travelers two boarding passes for a flight with no destination? It’s no riddle. Founded by Australian Phil Asker in 1994, Antarctica Flights, in conjunction with Qantas, brings passengers on a 12-and-a-half-hour sightseeing journey from Australia to Antarctica and back.

Antarctica Flights

photo: Antarticar flights

Passengers can track their flight’s path, progress and position on the airline’s moving map system. The airline flies over 90 plotted flight paths, so no flight is the same.

Within three hours of departure, flyers aboard the privately chartered Qantas 747-400 can spot icebergs from their windows as they travel closer to the South Magnetic Pole. As it reaches the nether continent, the aircraft maintains a low altitude of 10,000 feet and flies in sweeping figure eights to offer passengers pristine views of the frozen South’s glacial formations, rugged terrain and even active volcanoes from all angles. “There’s no turbulence in Antarctica, so we encourage people to get up and move around – share their windows,” says Bas Bosschieter, general manager, Antarctica Flights. At the halfway point, passengers in all classes except Business Centre and Economy Centre swap with their seatmates so everyone gets some time near a window. When noses aren’t pressed up against the glass, flyers can watch Happy Feet on the airline’s IFE system or

enjoy documentary screenings of life on the ground in Antarctica. Expeditioners and lecturers walk the aisles to answer questions and indicate points of interest. Instead of traditional amenity kits, explorer kits provide passengers with maps and guides. The airline offers approximately five flights a year, including a special New Year’s Eve flight that allows passengers to pop champagne over ice to the tune of a live jazz band. Flights generally depart bright and early around 7 a.m. and have travelers home just after dinner. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all served in line with Qantas’ international meal service. “The types of people who go on Antarctica Flights range from children at the age of 14 to – we had a gentleman celebrate his 95th birthday on one of our flights a couple of years ago,” Bosschieter says. “It’s like no other 12-hour flight that you’ve ever been on.”

“The world’s most unique day tour.” Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Feminine Flair by Jordan Yerman

In the cutthroat world of low-cost carriers (LCCs), it’s not enough to compete on price. Instead, it’s all about the passenger experience, which starts before the ticket gets booked. A few airlines have experimented with gender-specific marketing, but Japan’s Peach Aviation has gone all-in, fielding a fleet of pink jets, a colorful logo and marketing language based firmly in kawaii (read “cute”) culture. If you want to win in the LCC game, turns out you have to fight like a girl. Peach’s livery is cute and cool: pink, fuchsia and white – bearing striking resemblance to Barbie’s Corvette. “It expresses cuteness, coolness and happiness,” according to the 2011 press release that announced the airline’s launch. The Peach logo uses a playful sans serif font, with a heavier weight to convey reliability. The in-flight Peach Deli meal service includes “cute and cool” jar salads – both trendy and healthy. “After breakfast, just rinse out the jar and use it as a vase or

Peach Aviation Convenient jar salads provide passengers with healthy meal options. Once finished, the pinklidded Mason jar can be used at home as a decoration.

interior decoration,” the airline suggests on its Facebook page. Inside the aircraft, purple seats face a pink galley wall, matching the bright fuchsia polar fleece blankets the cabin crew hands out, tied with bow and ribbon. Fuchsia, the Peach duty-free shop, features mostly cosmetics and fragrances. The color theme carries over to the flight attendants’ outfits, supplied by

high-end retailer Takashimaya. The pink pocket square worn by the gents matches the collars of the men’s and women’s shirts. The look is sleek, chic and unique, with branding carried out by Tokyo-based The Brand Architect Group, which also takes credit for evolving mega-retailer Uniqlo into a global player. Does such gendered marketing work? Perhaps. During its first year of operation, Peach outperformed LCC competitors Jetstar and AirAsia by a load factor of 10 percent, and that can’t just be down to fare prices. Margins for LCCs are razor-thin, especially when they have to compete with Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains, which are as punctual as they are famously fast. Even against such competition, within four years of operation, Peach Aviation has gone from flying between Tokyo and Osaka to serving 14 domestic and nine international routes. That’s girl power.

photo: Peach aviation

“Cute and cool.”

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Specialties

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Visit us at apex.aero

Wing and a Prayer by Caroline Ku

The mission of Firnas Airways is to fly British Muslim passengers to underserved destinations in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia while offering the amenities of a full-service carrier at economy prices. The UK-based airline promises “dynamic seating concepts,” generous legroom, in-flight entertainment and complimentary Wi-Fi, along with halalonly meals and alcohol-free beverages. But the airline is not taking bookings yet. Founder and CEO Kazi Shafiqur Rahman calculates a cost of $50 million to keep the startup’s operations afloat for the first three years and to lease three Boeing 767-300ERs. In his YouTube call for investors, he assures there’s a market for his airline – owing to routes abandoned by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. “There’s loads of different airlines traveling from the UK, yet none of them want to touch the soil of Bangladesh,” he says. Airports have responded positively. Gatwick, Stansted, Heathrow and

Birmingham are contenders for the airline’s hub, with the first route potentially planned for Sylhet, Bangladesh, Rahman’s hometown. Kevin Steele, former managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, who has held senior positions at Arik Air, Etihad Airways and British Airways, was recently brought on board. The airline expects to launch in 2016. But how will Firnas Airways differentiate from Qatar, Etihad or Turkish Airlines, carriers that already serve halal meals and beverages, offer the Quran through the in-flight entertainment system and, in some cases, even provide onboard prayer facilities? Elena Nikolova, founder of the blog MuslimTravelGirl says, “It really depends on the extra mile.” Based on Firnas’ planned destinations, Nikolova, who wrote her dissertation on the consumer behavior of Muslims, believes the airline’s target customers are Asian Muslims. “They have families,

Firnas Airways The airline’s plan to offer “dynamic seating concepts” is likely intended to accommodate groups of multigenerational families flying together.

they don’t fly [alone] … They’re mostly people who are visiting family back home,” she says. And when booking multiple seats for travel in a multigenerational group, price and nonstop or direct flights become a priority. “The concept of the airline is great. It’s something that can work. I saw the destinations there,” Nikolova says, “and they are actually lucrative.” While Firnas has its sights set on serving a target market, the airline states that anyone is welcome, no matter what ethnicity or religion.

“A new revolutionary way to fly.”

An Airline for Muslim Malaysians Rayani Air Dubbed Malaysia’s first Islamic airline, the Kuala Lumpur-based carrier Rayani Air takes passengers to local vacation spots in Langkawi and Kota Bharu. Like Firnas Airways, it aims to be sharia-compliant. Pork and pork by-products, alcohol and animals not slaughtered according to halal standards are forbidden. Prayers are also said before takeoff – a tiny detail valued by Muslim travelers like Elena Nikolova, founder of the blog MuslimTravelGirl. It’s an “intangible aspect” of the passenger experience, she says. “It gives you a nice feeling,” and is an example of an airline going the extra mile.

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Economy-class passengers are offered complimentary meal boxes with a packet of peanuts, fruit juice and a slice of cake. On the outside of the boxes, three Sudoku boards keep flyers entertained.

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Pet Projects by Caitlin Stall-Paquet

Pet Airways and Animal Airways If traveling in the European Union, pet owners need to obtain passports for their furry friends – a process that Animal Airways provides assistance for.

Since launching in 2009, Pet Airways – the only pet-only airline that lets pets fly in the cabin, had flown more than 9,000 cats, dogs and a potbelly pig across the United States. But, after falling on tough times, the airline was forced to fold only two years later. While Pet Airways didn’t make it, Animal Airways, a service that connects pet owners with the airline most suited to their needs when it comes to traveling with furry friends, has proven a viable alternative. The company regularly works with the likes of Lufthansa, United Airlines and Air Canada to provide clients with options that fit their flying criteria, from budget to weather restrictions. The team, including many animal health-care professionals, evaluates each pet and determines its individual requirements to ensure safe travel, leaving no details up in the air. They also help flyers get all their ducks – or cats and dogs – in a row before they head to the airport. Animal Airways assists in figuring out necessary documentation and provides pet couriers who accompany animals throughout the journey, which helps ease owners’ anxieties.

Free and Clear

photos:Firnas airways; gettyimages; Swiss

by Caitlin Stall-Paquet

In 2014, SWISS became the world’s first allergy-friendly airline, implementing changes at every level of the flying experience: from the air in the cabin to seat fabrics to the meal offering. The airline has obtained the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation’s seal of approval, thanks to its attention to detail, so that allergy-afflicted travelers can fly at ease, steering clear of reactions. Airplanes are equipped with high-efficiency air-conditioning systems that handle airborne allergens, bathrooms dispense hypoallergenic products and menus are prepared to cater for food allergies. While it’s the airline’s policy not to serve peanuts, it can’t ensure a complete lack of contact with nuts for its meals. However, gluten and lactose intolerances are catered to with special menus. SWISS also stocks histamine tablets and, for extra peace of mind, the airline’s crew is trained to respond to allergic emergencies.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

SWISS As an allergy-minded airline, SWISS bans passengers from bringing nuts on board, but they make up for it with chocolate, distributing 16.1 million bars a year.

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Q&A

apex experience

Visit us at apex.aero

“

People are more open-minded when traveling and are willing to watch programming that they wouldn’t normally.

”

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Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Q&A

> Fast Facts Frequent Flight:

LAX-LHR

Cathie Trotta

The future of flight will be:

Astonishing

Favorite aircraft:

A380

Passport stamp you wish you had:

Vietnam

Managing Director Penny Black Media

photo: Mehran Torgoley

With a University of Michigan film and communications degree in hand, Cathie’s first foray into entertainment was working for the studio head at 20th Century Fox. She continued her career with stints at MGM, E!, Rysher and Paramount. In 2004, she set her sights locally in Orange County and joined Spafax. Six years later, she merged her film and airline experience, joining Penny Black Media as managing director.

To read Cathie’s full Q&A, please visit us online at > apex.aero/ cathietrotta

Airline Passenger Experience Association

very job has a cool factor. What’s yours? I would have to say that attending the major film festivals each year manages to earn me the envy of a number of my friends. And while there is a bit of glamour to all of that, what I enjoy most is having the opportunity to screen much-anticipated films before they officially release in theaters. I also relish being surrounded by people who love films. It’s especially great to get feedback on the films from people all over the world who attend these festivals. After all, most of them are an airline passenger at some point, which means they are a consumer of our product at the end of the day. Something that never ceases to amaze you in your industry? I’m always amazed when I finally see a film of ours find its way on board an airplane. There is so much that goes into the process, from securing the film early on to finally bringing the title to the market. Once that film is about to hit the theaters, we get into gear for the early-window airline exploitation – gather all the materials, access or create language versions, create the edited version, sort out airline avails – so many pieces of the puzzle to put together in a very short period of time. Perhaps if passengers were aware of all the time and effort that the distributors,

the airlines and their programmers put in to get their entertainment delivered to them on board, they would be more grateful. How do content and entertainment expectations change for people when they are traveling? My impression is that people are more open-minded when traveling and are willing to watch programming that they wouldn’t normally pay to go see at a theater, or watch on TV or – in the case of local fare – might not even have the opportunity to watch. That is what makes today’s array of in-flight entertainment offerings so great: There’s a little something for everyone. Your top three films of all time? Wow, always challenging to select just three, but if I have to commit, and I do so at the risk of sounding unoriginal, the top three films on my list would be The Godfather, Thelma & Louise and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I can watch any of these films over and over again and never tire of them. They are all different in their genre and message, but each has one thing in common – a wellacted, good story. Two things you miss the most about home when you’re traveling? My family (my husband and cat) and our beautiful California weather!

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Tastemaker

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Visit us at apex.aero

Tony’s Grand Tour Anthony Bourdain’s blazed a trail across the globe, charting a course against conventionality and piloting a cool travel revolution – one TV-gold drunk scene at a time. by Katie Sehl

he camera is a liar,” narrates Anthony Bourdain, as shots jump-cut from the Indian Ocean splashing against a seawall in Manakara to black screen to vibrant streaks of village, countryside and overgrown jungle whishing past a ramshackle railcar window. “It shows everything. It shows nothing. It reveals only what we want.” More black screen, B-roll and then what looks like a spliced old filmstrip wheels upward with mechanical clicks. “Often what we see is seen only from a window, moving past, then gone. One window. My window. If you’d been here, chances are you would have seen things differently.”

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There’s no pretense of objective camera on the CNN travel-doc series Parts Unknown. In episode 4, season 5, Bourdain – famed foodie, wayfarer and host – is joined in Madagascar by acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. It’s clear from the start, as Aronofksy confesses his abstinence from meat to a guy who calls pork his favorite vegetable, that the two will experience the cultures of the island nation through different lenses. And they do. While Bourdain attends a ceremony that involves the sacrificial killing of a cow, Aronofsky plots a different route, prowling the Malagasy rain forest. >

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Tastemaker

photo: cNN

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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CONNECTING YOUR PASSENGERS IFPL.COM

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Tastemaker

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Bourdain’s Passport More than 230 episodes have aired, between A Cook’s Tour, No Reservations, The Layover and Parts Unknown.

But while the episode, at times, verges on two different paths, Bourdain’s closing monologue makes it clear which camera, or window, viewers have ultimately been privy to: his. “The idea behind that [window] scene was… I wanted to remind people that it’s my version,” he explained at a PaleyLive event in New York City. Make no mistake: This is Tony’s tour, and it’s working.

don’t cornhole my baby

photo: cNN

Currently in production of its seventh season, Parts Unknown, fronted by Bourdain’s now signature calls-it-as-he-seesit charge, has taken viewers across the globe to metropolises (Miami, Tokyo, Istanbul),

“You’re either going to love him or hate him, but he’s going to tell it like he sees it.” Chris Collins Airline Passenger Experience Association

embattled meccas (Beirut, Jerusalem, Detroit) and less familiar destinations (Bahia, Cuba, Borneo), nabbing more than a couple Emmys along the way and ranking among CNN’s best-rated programs. Before Parts Unknown, the show’s founding producers, Chris Collins and Lydia Tenaglia (partners in both business and wedlock), had pitched Bourdain with the concept of A Cook’s Tour – a food and travel show that would see him, on the heels of his recently published bestseller Kitchen Confidential, in search of the perfect meal. After a two-season stint on the Food Network, they made the hop over to the Travel Channel, debuting the similarly premised No Reservations in 2005, and later its spinoff, The Layover. But things soured between Bourdain and the network. At the Paley event, Collins recalls an e-mail that Bourdain sent to the network’s head honchos – subject line: “Aspiring to Mediocrity.” It was the “undressing of a network,” he shared. “It was a battle cry for us as well: Stop f-ing around, we’ve got to follow a different path.” Tenaglia got the message too. “Actually, the last line of that e-mail was, ‘Don’t cornhole my baby,’” she says.

80+

countries visited on air.

Top Destinations

(by frequency of appearance) 1. United States 2. France 3. Italy 4. Japan 5. Vietnam

With the show’s creators already feeling restrained and forced into a box, things reached an impasse in 2012, when a dispute over product integration impelled Bourdain to announce that he was jumping ship to CNN.

keeping it real And so begat Parts Unknown. Love him or hate him, what viewers get is the Bourdain experience: raw, opinionated and hungry for novelty. “You’re going to go along for the ride, you’re either going to love him or hate him, but he’s going to tell it like he sees it,” explains Collins. “And that has carried us for many, many years in making some really extraordinary television.” > volume 6, edition 1

The Man Himself We caught up with Bourdain to discuss his shows, smoky little bars and in-flight entertainment. How do you and your team go about choosing destinations? Personal bucket list would be the preferred factor. I mean, if it’s a place I’ve always wanted to go and I have the opportunity to do it, that would be great. What doesn’t happen is, the network does not make suggestions. No one makes suggestions, let’s put it that way. Do you hear back from restaurants or other proprietors you’ve visited about booms in bookings following the airings of your shows? How do you feel about being a tastemaker? Well, I have mixed emotions about it. It can be a destructive process. You know, I find a smoky little bar that’s beloved by locals, I put it on TV, and the next time I go back to it, there are all these tourists there. We try to do no harm as we travel the world. I’m pointing cameras at places that I love and that I’m interested in, but there’s a downside to that. It’s possible and even likely that that kind of attention changes the character of the place, of these small businesses. And on the one hand, maybe the operator or the business owner was happy about the increased revenue, but a lot of the regular customers are not going to be happy.

Tastemaker

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Before hooking up with Bourdain, Collins and Tenaglia worked emergency rooms with handy-cams for medical docudramas, a blood-and-guts, boots-on-the-ground approach that’s underpinned the output of their company, Zero Point Zero Production. For Collins, the style marked a critical and significant shift in documentary television. “It changed the way these stories were told. They were more personal, they were more intimate and they were more real,” he said at Skift’s 2015 Global Forum. “It began as a process of storytelling that was truly immersive and real,” Collins added. “One thing we always hear about is the authenticity of the experience and the journey – and that’s what resonates. That’s what truly resonates in storytelling.”

an unlikely guide If the guidebook did indeed die in the digital age, then Bourdain hammered the final nails into its coffin with a running segment on The Layover that saw the cliché-weary host leaf through a generic booklet, mocking its predictable format. Sure, the installment set the show, and its 24- to 48-hour whirlwind tours of cities, a step above the conventional travel book, but the bit would have also resonated with a growing audience of so-called millennial travelers – or simply those who had become wary of empirical voices and big-brand names, and were looking to carve out their own experiences.

“People are savvier these days and tend to trust word-of-mouth over brands and companies.” Éric Lauzon The Internet may not be entirely to blame for the demise of the guidebook: Priorities have changed. Comfort has been supplanted by experience. Food and drink has moved from the backseat to taking the wheel. And authentic, local experiences have usurped big-brand packages. In response, turnof-the-millennium sites like TripAdvisor (founded in 2000) and Yelp (2004) surfaced as new and, importantly, authentic sources of travel information. “It’s just a part of the zeitgeist,” says Éric Lauzon, Multimedia Entertainment manager for Air Canada, which launched its own online travel-tipster community for its flyers. “People are savvier these days and tend to trust word-of-mouth over brands and companies – especially when it comes from someone they can relate to.” >

So, I’m aware of that. And there have been examples of times on the show where I’ve just found a bar, for instance, or a little restaurant that was so perfect that I kept the name and location secret because I don’t want to ruin it. When you’re traveling by plane, what do you do for in-flight entertainment? I load my device with as many books and movies as I can, and I always have rough cuts to review myself. Or I have writing to do. But I try to load up with stuff for long flights, books in particular.

photos: AFP; getty images

Read the full interview at > apex.aero/ anthonybourdain

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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LPE-P16NC

INSERT-1030

INSERT-1027

Serenity S1

AIRBUS A350-900 1:100 1:200

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Tastemaker

Tour behind the scenes with Zero Point Zero Production executive producer Sandy Zweig > apex.aero/ sandyzweig

TripAdvisor plotted a similar genesis to Bourdain’s shows. Initially, the site fashioned itself as an aggregator of travel info, gathering links to travel articles from around the web. But the site quickly found that its user reviews – not the traditional web articles – were what was drawing visitors in. The company adjusted its focus, and “Real hotel reviews you can trust” became the new mantra, leading the site to balloon to a database of 290 million user-generated reviews of more than five million businesses. Since then, the slogan has been changed to “Reviews from our community.”

the bourdain effect Bourdain’s gonzo style inadvertently tapped – even piloted, some would say – the new travel zeitgeist. “He comes across as an ordinary guy,” Lauzon says. “He isn’t glitzy. He eats in dives as well as fancy restaurants. He socializes with the people of every place he visits – in short, he’s just like you and me. I think that’s why his shows work and why he has such a large following.”

Parts Unknown, Season Six The latest season of Parts Unknown features trips to Cuba, Marseille, Okinawa, Ethiopia, the Bay Area, Borneo, Istanbul and Charleston.

photo: cNN

• Across cable news in its time slot, the show: > ranked number one among adults 25-54 and 18-34, outperforming the combined viewership of Fox News and MSNBC in each demographic. > attracted the youngest audience – forming a median age of 53 • The show is up from live-to-live viewing by more than 46 percent in total viewers, indicating that the program is almost as often DVR’d and watched after it premieres.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

His programming makes for a compelling companion on any flight, too. “The shows are definitely entertaining as well as informative,” says Lauzon. “For passengers looking purely for recommendations on where to eat and places to go, they can take that away. But he also provides an insider’s guide for others who want to learn more about the country he’s in.” Several airlines, including Finnair, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines, have taken note. For its part, TripAdvisor has made the move onto airplanes as well, having teamed up with WOI (now Global Eagle Entertainment) last year to integrate a

regularly updated version of its site on Air New Zealand’s seatback screens. If you type “Anthony Bourdain” into TripAdvisor, you’ll turn up more than 2,000 results, nearly 70 percent of them for restaurants. Under the listing for a Roman trattoria, Ristorante Roma Sparita, one user writes: “I went here, like so many others, because Anthony Bourdain suggested it.” Some reviewers thank him profusely for the recommendation; others tell him how wrong he got it. At the end of the day, his voice may be one among many – but his is undoubtedly a well-traveled and well-fed one – and, most importantly, it’s indisputably his. volume 6, edition 1

Q&A

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Visit us at apex.aero

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

There will be more and more bandwidth, but it will not be free, so our industry will continue to be judicious in its use for in-flight entertainment.

â&#x20AC;?

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Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Q&A

> Fast Facts Location:

SNA

Rich Salter

The future of flight will be:

Extraordinary Favorite hotel:

The Rilano Hotel Hamburg

Favorite aircraft:

B747-400

Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer Lumexis Corporation

photo: Lumexis

Rich received his B.Sc and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Ohio University. Later, he cofounded Airshow map displays and consulted on in-flight entertainment. In 2003, he cofounded Lumexis. Rich has served on the board of the WAEA (now APEX) and its Technology Committee (TC), ARINC Cabin Systems Subcommittee and the FAA PED Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He is currently the leader of APEX TC and its Payment Technologies Working Group.

To read Rich’s full Q&A, please visit us online at > apex.aero/ RichSalter

Airline Passenger Experience Association

id you choose the airline industry or did it choose you? I chose avionics while attending Ohio University in the 1970s, and also became a private pilot. Later I chose airlines after we launched Airshow (now owned by Rockwell Collins) back in the early 1980s. We had sold the Airshow moving map product to thousands of private biz jets, but I wanted the general public to see the maps, so jumped on the opportunity when Swissair, SAS, Air New Zealand and Qantas became interested. A trip to Swissair in Zurich in 1985 to explain Airshow to their engineers hooked me on the airline business for good – and I came back with our first airline order, too! If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you love to be doing? I used to be involved in land-use planning with the City of Irvine and a local environmental watchdog group called Friends of Newport Coast. I loved that community involvement and the challenge of creating long-lasting improvements and open space for the community. How do you see in-flight entertainment evolving over the coming years? Consumer technology and trends on the ground will drive what we see in the air. Whether it’s fiber-optic backbone networks delivering high-definition movies and

holograms, or Wi-Fi delivering content to those last few passengers, the onboard networks will evolve by following technology on the ground. Off-aircraft connectivity will continue to grow dramatically with next-gen satellite systems, and apps will continue to spring up for doing everything imaginable. Players, à la Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, Apple, Samsung and the like, will become common in-flight entertainment partners. Virtual reality, augmented reality and second screen will be used for more and more functions. What will the industry do with more bandwidth? There will be more and more bandwidth, but it will not be free, so our industry will continue to be judicious in its use for in-flight entertainment. Streaming movies ground-toair and in-cabin video from air-to-ground (for security, etc.) will continue to see limited use. However, being connected to social media while on board will really “soar.” And higher bandwidth connectivity will enable travel, retail and reservation apps to excel in performance (using real-time user authentication and credit card validation that is available now for higher-value transactions). What’s the one item you can’t travel without? Bose noise-canceling headset. volume 6, edition 1

Roundtable

apex experience

Streamlining Security With smart passports, biometric identification and automated kiosks, there may be clearer skies ahead for the passenger experienceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest pain point.

photos: courtesy of Rockwell Collins, Delta Air Lines, IATA Timatic and US Customs and Border Protection

by Jasmin Legatos | illustration Ricardo polo

> Tony Chapman Senior Director, Global Airports Product Management & Strategic Programs Rockwell Collins

Airline Passenger Experience Association

> Thom Lang General Manager Corporate Real Estate Delta Air Lines

> Alan Murray Hayden Assistant Director IATA Timatic

> Daniel Tanciar Director, Travel and Tourism Initiatives Office of Field Operations US Customs and Border Protection

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Roundtable

magine, passengers were once able to board an airplane without showing any ID or passing through a body scanner. It seems unfathomable now, but until 1973, a ticket and non-threatening demeanor were usually enough to gain access to the cabin. A failed bomb attempt onboard a flight from New York to Los Angeles in March 1972 as well as two more violent hijackings later that year prompted the US government to institute mandatory passenger screening and X-ray inspections for carry-on baggage. Still, security was less rigorous than it is today. Back then, private contractors ran the X-ray machines and magnetometers, and checked baggage on international routes was only periodically inspected.

the new reality When the first airplane hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the world of aviation changed forever. Governments moved swiftly, creating agencies like the Transportation Security Administration in the United States and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to oversee all travel within their respective borders. “After 9/11, we realized we had to approach security as a unified agency under one department and refocus our efforts on security checks to stop threats,” says Daniel Tanciar, director of Travel and Tourism Initiatives for the Office of Field Operations of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Prior to the attacks, three separate regulatory bodies handled the processing of

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all passengers, aircraft and goods coming into the United States. Other countries, such as Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, have made similar moves to bring various agencies under one umbrella to better deal with possible threats, Tanciar adds.

a growing footprint Like CBP, airport screening checkpoints were also consolidated, explains Thom Lang, general manager Corporate Real Estate for Delta Air Lines. When 9/11 hit, he and his team were 60 percent complete with the design documents for Terminal A at Boston Logan Airport. They had to then redesign the lion’s share of the building to accommodate a single checkpoint instead of multiple checkpoints they had envisioned to handle the different products Delta was flying at the time. “The idea was that it’s better to have more eyes in one area instead of three separate ones.” In the intervening years, the footprint for the security checkpoint has increased: We now have to take off our shoes and take liquids out of our carry-on luggage to be scanned; many airports also have imposing body imaging scanners instead of magnetometers. Of course, this is obviously for good reason, Lang notes. Though the security footprint at airports has gotten bigger since 9/11, airports, governments and airlines have put in place procedures, programs and technologies to reduce the burden on passengers who pose no threat and to better identify those who do.

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“Ninety-nine percent of the folks visiting the US have no ill harm or intent, so we owe it to our stakeholders and those travelers to have a process that’s welcoming and not stressful,” Tanciar says. He cites developments like automated passport control that allow passengers entering the United States to use kiosks for filling out customs declaration forms, scanning passports and providing fingerprints. “It’s made an amazing impact on our wait time in the nation’s airports,” says Tanciar, “with some seeing a reduction of as much as 35 percent.”

Global Security Control News More than 100 states around the world issue biometric passports, but standardization of technology, procedures and regulations is an ongoing issue.

italy Rome’s Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is piloting a self-service e-gate system that clears more than 3,000 e-passport holders from EU member states a day using fingerprint and facial recognition tech.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

positive id Pundits agree that biometrics, or using a person’s unique physical characteristics as ID, are key to providing better customer experience and better security for air travel. “Our goal is to make procedures and technologies seamless to the passenger,” says Tony Chapman, senior director of Product Management and Strategic Programs for Global Airports at Rockwell Collins. Among other products, Chapman’s firm provides airports with automated self-service check-in and boarding gate kiosks. They are working on technology

Roundtable

apex experience

that will capture a passenger’s facial biometric at these kiosks, which can then be checked against the biometric stored on the individual’s e-passport to confirm identity and validated at different points in the airport. A traveler might have his or her biometric captured, but in many cases, that person might not even know it, he adds. Alan Murray Hayden, IATA’s assistant director of Timatic, the system that enables airlines to verify whether people have sufficient travel documents to complete their journey, sees mobile phones as a tool to bring the world of identification and security

even closer together. “Your smartphone could store all your biometric data, which would follow you as you move through all parts of the airport and your trip,” he says. From a security point of view, biometrics could help eliminate would-be terrorists traveling with fake documents. Lang explains, “There are people out there who attempt to skirt the system through fake or altered IDs. Through the biometric process, we only have one set of eyes or fingerprints. It’s a tamper-proof way of ascertaining that I am who I say I am.” “Automated systems provide consistency. If we can do a facial match with the image on the passport, that’s a consistent process driven by technology,” Chapman says, adding that human intervention at this stage of the screening process can’t match the precision of these controls. >

caribbean

united states of america

The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) plans to implement biometric ID cards so that people from the members of the OECS will not have to fill out immigration cards when traveling between these states.

The US Customs and Border Protection is conducting a facial recognition entry pilot program that allows border officials to use facial recognition as a tool to identify imposters using US-issued e-passports.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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CHANGE IS IN THE AIR_

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aruba (netherlands) The government of Aruba is piloting a “Happy Flow” project at Queen Beatrix International Airport, creating a 100 percent self-service traveler experience through the use of facial recognition technology.

bangladesh In March 2015, officials began issuing 90 million smart National Identity cards under the Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services project. The cards encompass some 25 services, including driver’s licenses, banking, health cards, voting and passports.

cuba The Cuban government plans to issue a new ID card that will include biometric voiceprints, iris scans and DNA data.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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“We know that people aren’t consistent in the way they behave; they can get tired or distracted,” says Chapman. Automated systems let airport and airline staff concentrate on areas where the technology has flagged an inconsistency or uncertain result, as in the case of identical twins, that requires further investigation, he explains. Certain countries are already using biometrics in their e-passports, and Trusted Traveler programs such as Nexus and Global Entry capture this type of data to ensure their members’ identities. There are currently 3.8 million people enrolled in Global Entry, says Tanciar. Passengers under this scheme arrive at an international airport in the United States, insert their passports into a reader at a kiosk, fill out a simplified electronic customs declaration form, record their fingerprint and receive a receipt to exit the terminal. “They don’t have to speak to a CBP officer every time they arrive,” says Tanciar. “On busy days, 10 to 12 percent of all incoming passengers use this program. It’s been a great success and most passengers really like not having to wait in line.”

Roundtable

more airports, more problems “There’s a saying: If you’ve been to one airport, you’ve been to one airport,” Tanciar says. Though they all have some fundamental similarities, the layout, construction and available space is different across the board. That means it’s virtually impossible to implement a one-size-fits-all policy. Airport real estate is at a premium, with competing interests jockeying for position. For Lang, airports need to create flexible environments so that security checkpoints can expand and contract based on the newest piece of equipment or regulatory process. Greater flexibility is something that CBP is looking to implement in the future. Tanciar says, “With technology advancements in mobile, you’ll see us be a lot more flexible within the international arrivals space, so instead of building big booths that are fixed and expensive, you’ll maybe find us in smaller footprints, like podiums.” From a regulatory perspective, navigating different government policies is often >

volume 6, edition 1

Roundtable

apex experience

Listen to the podcast of this conversation at > apex.aero/ securitypodcast

what can hold new technologies back. For one, while the number of states issuing e-passports has increased, many countries still issue paper passports or face supporting infrastructure issues. Also, each government has its own privacy laws, says Chapman, who mentions the debate between the European Union and North America regarding the Passenger Name Record (PNR), which includes all details of a passenger’s booking. “Some countries consider [the PNR] private data that they won’t export across borders,” Chapman explains. Also, “In some countries, you almost waive your rights to have your data captured by virtue of having bought a ticket to travel through that airport, while other countries might say we can’t capture biometric data without express consent. That’s the big debate at the moment.”

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Ultimately, no two countries are 100 percent alike. Lang, however, doesn’t necessarily think that’s all bad. “As we try to stay a step ahead of the bad guys, if you go with a standardized footprint around the world [vis-à-vis security procedures], that sort of exposes you a little bit.”

the long and short of it No one likes standing in line at airport security or at border control, and it can be easy to look at increased security measures as a nuisance. It’s worth considering that the decade leading up to the introduction of mandatory passenger screening, when security was less prevalent, saw the highest concentration of skyjackings in the history of aviation. But consider, too, that with new technologies and attitudes about passenger experience and comfort, it may soon be that getting on an airplane will not be all that much different from boarding a bus.

uganda Uganda plans to issue e-passports integrating radio-frequency identification, and fingerprint and iris scan biometrics. The country has also begun issuing UNHCRand ICAO-compliant Machine Readable Passports to refugees to help facilitate their movement to other nations.

japan By 2017, facial recognition machines will be installed at all Japanese airports to screen travelers against facial photo data encrypted in their passports. Japanese passport holders already scan fingerprint biometrics at automated border control kiosks.

volume 6, edition 1

SITA

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Visit us at apex.aero

Smooth Operator by Caroline Ku

At the SITA Command Center in Montreal, staff monitor airports and airlines around the world from rows of desks that face seven-foot-tall screens.

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t 6:50 a.m., Gustavo Romero reaches for a cup of tea to begin his 12-hour workday. A conference call is made to Singapore and he is briefed on any serious airport disruptions that may have occurred overnight – flight delays, mishandled baggage, overcrowded servers. These incidents have happened in airports in Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Europe while Romero was asleep in Montreal. But for Romero, head of the SITA Command Center in Montreal, they transcend time zones and origins if they have not been resolved before “The Handover” – when the world’s airport operations are passed on to him. By 7 a.m., Romero has exchanged e-mails with his counterpart, Mathew White, who works out of the SITA Command Center’s second location, in Singapore, and his team is up to speed on the remaining tasks at hand. “We call them ‘the brothers,’” says Chantal Dubé, director of SITA Global Services Baggage and Cloud Operations, even though “they look very different.” Both are head of the SITA Command Center, both helm SITA’s

airport operations for 12 hours of the day, and in doing so, the two are practically conjoined. “The scary part is, some days, not that often, the first person I speak to in the morning is Gustavo and the last person I speak [to] before I go to bed is Gustavo. Those are the days where we have an incident that needs a really high level of focus and mobilization of expert resources,” White says. By 7:30 a.m. each day, the command center’s operations are officially passed from Airline Passenger Experience Association

photo: sita

At every step of the passenger experience, from check-in to baggage tracking, the SITA Command Center works around the clock, in Montreal and Singapore, to ensure there are no hitches throughout the journey.

apex experience

SITA

Behind the Command

Singapore to Montreal like an Olympic Torch – only without the fanfare. Singapore shuts down to sleep and the operations carry on in Montreal, where computers are humming, screens are alight and somewhere, a coffee pot is on. “Every day, every hour, we work as one,” Romero says. “We have to, because in truth, we are in the same boat. Together, Mathew and I either succeed or fail. This culture is embedded in the command centers at SITA.” > Airline Passenger Experience Association

No longer are command centers like bunkers, furnished with heavy analog machines adorned with knobs, buttons and switches that require a human operator to manipulate them, as in a scene from Dr. Strangelove. Today’s command centers are increasingly lighter and more technical. Tool belt-toting technicians have been replaced by highly trained IT professionals adept in computer engineering who interact with graphical user interfaces on computers. The centerpiece of every command center is the large-format video displays modeled after NASA’s original Mission Control Center circa 1965. Installing one

isn’t the same as mounting a flatscreen in your home: sight lines, refractions, light levels and ambient noise are considered when choosing their location, and they need their own air conditioning. Constantly running servers and computers, which can generate as much heat as a household clothing iron, require cooling. An overheating device is an issue that could trigger an incident at the SITA Command Center if it happened at one of its data centers, where critical infrastructure from network devices, servers and kiosks are stored. That’s why they’re often located adjacent to the command center, but offsite for added security.

volume 6, edition 1

“A classic adventure film of the best kind” - Variety. Theeb (Wolf), the Oscar and BAFTA nominated story of a young boy’s fight for survival. Available now for selected in-flight territories worldwide (Excluding Aus/NZ, CIS, China, Singapore, Brunei, MENA).

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SITA

apex experience

SITA monitors several aspects of the passenger experience, including ckeck-in kiosks.

“There’s a constant level of attention on the issue, and it carries on.”

brothers at work, competitors on the track

Chantal Dubé

Montreal’s Gustavo Romero and Singapore’s Mathew White may be running on the same team at work, but outside the office, they’re in a race against each other. White Says “We compete on our half-marathon times! We both have yet to get under two hours, although I win on time – two hours, one minute!” Romero Says “I have to admit he is ahead at the moment, but you must remember he is running in flat, sunny Singapore as I pound the hilly and often chilly pavement in Montreal! I look forward to our next face-to-face meeting, as I bet on a flat course, I’ll beat him easily.”

photos: sita

it takes two Prior to having two command centers, SITA had separate support channels for various services. In 2010, they were consolidated into the SITA Command Center in Montreal, which operated on a 24-hour cycle, 365 days a year. But overnight shifts proved difficult to keep up, and a year later, a second office was established in Singapore. Airline Passenger Experience Association

Having mirroring command centers on opposite sides of the world allows the different time zones to be covered at reasonable hours by either office, meaning Romero isn’t waking up in a hot sweat over minor glitches in the system – and neither is his “brother.” “The good thing is, I can sleep, he can sleep,” says Romero. “Before that, when there was an escalation, we were being called in the middle of the night.” The mirroring offices also play a supportive role in the event of a disaster. “What if the building has an issue? There’s a crisis going on?” Dubé asks rhetorically. “This is why it was also taken into consideration to have [a second office] in a different – not even city – but a different country altogether.” If an ice storm wipes out power in Quebec, as it did in 1998, Singapore can take over full-time for the duration of the emergency. “It ensures that there’s no drop in the operations,” Dubé says. “There’s a constant level of attention on the issue and it carries

on despite the fact that there is another country on the other side of the world picking up what we’re doing.”

in case of an incident At any given time, about 70 staff are monitoring data and applications from 30,000 common-use terminals and check-in kiosks for airlines, airports and airport authorities across 200 countries. A row of seven-foot-tall screens that runs almost the width of the room acts as the motherboard, displaying real-time data from airlines, airports, servers, kiosks and baggage systems. When a check-in kiosk at an airport is low on paper, for example, it appears at the command center as a low-level priority. Each “event” is assigned a priority and trickles down to the responsible team through a ticketing system. Since filling up paper isn’t a task that can be performed remotely, an alert is sent to an on-site technician who will likely receive the message on his or her mobile device. volume 6, edition 1

SITA

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Visit us at apex.aero

who dimmed the lights?

“Customers don’t see anything. Passengers go on their journey, board their flights.” Chantal Dubé 78

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As an event evolves, so does its urgency. The check-in kiosk that was low on paper becomes a higher priority when it’s out of paper. But when the issue is about paper that’s counted in dollars and not in sheets, it becomes a more urgent matter. “We manage a lot of our customers’ missioncritical systems,” says Dubé, “meaning, if they go down, then there’s an operational impact with … aircraft potentially [stuck] on the ground and delays of flights, which aggravates passengers [and] costs the airlines a lot of money.” Being proactive is key to delivering seamless airport operations. By the time a client reports an issue to one of SITA’s service desks in Costa Rica, Cairo, Jordan or India, it’s already registered as an incident in the Command Center’s system. “Most likely we are already aware of the situation,” says Romero, “and we are in a position to provide them with an update on how the resolution is progressing … Mobilizing

resources to address those incidents in a timely manner is fundamental in our business, and that’s what we do.”

as if nothing ever happened For the average traveler, checking in for a flight is a simple procedure: Arrive at the counter or kiosk; have your passport ready and, if offered, indicate your seat preference. “Most people have gone to an airport to pick up somebody or to take a flight, but very little is known about how it works in the background,” Dubé says. Working behind the scenes, often invisibly, is also what she calls the “cool factor” of her job. “Being able to take care of everything in the background without people knowing about it and making it run smoothly … Customers don’t see anything, passengers go on their journey, board their flights … There’s a lot going on in the background of running an airport and an airline, and we’re at the heart of it,” says Dubé. Airline Passenger Experience Association

photos: sita

Yilmaz Halac, vice-president of Client Technology at SDI Solutions, a company that specializes in designing technically advanced mission-critical work environments, says dimmed lighting in command centers helps to increase productivity and performance. Excessive and harsh lighting produces monitor glare and causes eyestrain, headaches, loss of focus and potentially even a higher staff turnover, he says.

Q&A

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Visit us at apex.aero

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

In my opinion, social media is the single-most important shift to the airline customer experience in the past five years.

â&#x20AC;?

volume 6, edition 1

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Q&A

apex experience

> Fast Facts Frequent Flight:

SYD-MEL

Jo Boundy

Favorite airport:

DXB

Paper or electronic boarding pass?

Electronic

Favorite social network:

Instagram

Head of Digital and Entertainment

photo: Brent Winstone, Qantas photographer

Qantas

Jo is responsible for the Qantas Group’s digital strategy, which includes maintaining brand on digital channels by driving innovation, digital communication, social media, digital content and content marketing. She also oversees Qantas’ entertainment properties, reaching customers in lounges, terminals and on board. Before Qantas, Jo developed digital, media, PR and internal communication strategies for Optus, British Telecommunications, Google and others.

To read Jo’s full Q&A, please visit us online at > apex.aero/ joboundy

Airline Passenger Experience Association

id you choose the airline industry or did it choose you? It chose me. My career began agency-side, working for a number of digital clients. I then moved in-house, working with some of the world’s biggest technology companies, including Google, British Telecommunications and Singtel. While I always loved the flying kangaroo, I wasn’t hooked on jet fuel until after I first went below the wing. What do you think is the most overlooked aspect of the passenger experience? Post-flight. An incredible focus is placed on pre- and in-flight experience. But often the most trying part of the journey is after you have left the airplane: customs, baggage delays, transport queues. How do content and entertainment expectations change for people when they are traveling? The entertainment industry has changed so rapidly in the past five years. Customers used to be happy with 10 movies that were at the cinemas three months earlier. But now, their expectations are so much higher. At home, you have access to multiple providers across multiple platforms consumed across multiple devices, and customers expect an equivalent service in the sky. The challenge for airlines is meeting the growing customer demand while providing a sustainable service.

How important is social media for an airline in the digital age? In my opinion, it’s the single-most important shift to the airline customer experience in the past five years. Not only does it allow real-time customer service, it also enables new ways of product marketing and development through customer insights, provides unique branding and engagement opportunities, generates revenue, enables global and immediate crisis communication, supports disruption management, drives loyalty and builds relationships. And it’s only just beginning. Social commerce has already shown us the future of customer behavior and presents a world of opportunity to improving the travel experience for airline passengers. What can the airline industry learn from the entertainment industry? Be quick. Be nimble. Be creative. Innovate and agitate. If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you love to be doing? Traveling the world as a champagne and oyster critic! One item you can’t travel without? Vegemite. Your top three films of all time? The Shawshank Redemption, Inception and Les Misérables (à la Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Tom Hooper). volume 6, edition 1

apex experience

Travelogue

Nostalgia Trip Looking back on his journey to becoming an avgeek, Howard Slutsken finds he still admires airplanes and the flight experience with the same childlike wonder he had as a boy. by Howard Slutsken | illustration Felipe Muhr

Airline Passenger Experience Association

volume 6, edition 1

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K, I’ll admit it. I’m the one who arrives at the airport hours early. I’m not worried about missing my flight, since I checked in online and know that it’s only going to take me a few minutes if I go through security on the mezzanine level at YYZ. No, I’m here because I love airports, aircraft and the process of travel. I’m a prepared passenger. I know my airport codes and airline abbreviations, and where in the plane I’ll be sitting. I’m holding my laptop and 3-1-1 liquids pouch, and I’m ready to yank my belt out and put it all into the X-ray bin. After security, I have plenty of time to walk from one end of the building to the other, discovering the airport’s new shops and figuring out which restaurant I’m going to visit in the terminal. There’s probably a new art installation to ponder, a carpet pattern to tweet and hopefully a new spot from which to watch ramp operations. I always make sure to bring a cleaning cloth in my briefcase, so I can wipe noseprints from terminal windows to get clear shots of planes that just beg to be added to my photo collection. Every airport brings Airline Passenger Experience Association

apex experience

new airlines, new liveries and new aircraft types. I’m not going through Sea-Tac (SEA) on this trip, but if I were, I would grab one of the comfortable rocking chairs in SEA’s Central Terminal food court, with its perfect view of departing flights. Or I would planespot at Tokyo Haneda until the last possible minute before my flight, enjoying the views from the airport’s well-designed outdoor observation decks. Look, it’s ANA’s Pokémon 777-300 logojet! My obsession with all things aviation began on the outdoor deck of a terminal far from Tokyo. Growing up in Montreal, I was just three, maybe four years old in the late 1950s. To maintain our mom’s sanity, my then 18-year-old brother, Jerry, took me out on weekends. We’d usually take a drive in his royal blue Riley sedan, and more often than not, we’d end up at Dorval Airport (YUL). We’d stand and watch the snorting and rumbling piston-powered airliners, including beautiful Super Constellations and workhorse DC-3s. We’d listen to the shriek of turboprop Vickers Viscounts and Vanguards, and watch in awe as elegantly dressed

Travelogue

passengers boarded the early jets, the DC-8s and 707s, bound for distant airports at unheard-of speeds. I was an incredibly excited six-year-old during my first flight on a Trans-Canada Air Lines DC-8-43 from YUL to YYZ. Now, oh-somany years later, I’m in line and watching an equally excited young boy board my flight from YYZ to YVR on an Air Canada 777-300ER. I wonder if he builds plastic airplane models any better than I did. I seem to recall being covered in the water-transfer decals, more ending up on my arms than on the model. I don’t build the plastic ones anymore, but I make sure to know the exact model of aircraft for my flights. It’s important when I’m figuring out what seat to book. Daytime flight? Window. Evening flight? Window. Overnight? Window – I might get to see the northern lights. And I’ve got SeatGuru.com bookmarked, because a window seat isn’t always a window seat. I thought I’d lose my marbles during a flight to Shanghai when my misaligned window seat gave me a 10-hour close-up view of the cabin sidewall. >

volume 6, edition 1

Travelogue

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Visit us at apex.aero

Think you’re an avgeek? These are the telltale signs: > APEX.AERO/ avgeeksigns

But I’ve got the perfect window seat on this flight, just ahead of the 777’s wing. It’s a stormy summer evening in Toronto, and I watch the ramp crew working to get our flight ready to go. Between Terminal 1’s piers, I can make out a dark asphalt outline on the ramp. It’s all that remains of the 1960s-vintage Aeroquay, where I worked as a “ramp rat,” back in the day. I spent two fabulous summers at YYZ, marshaling, loading and unloading turboprop Convair 580s, contemporary jets like the DC-9s, 727s and 707s, and the then new wide-body DC-10s and 747s. Our crew was responsible for cabin cleaning on

I might be the only passenger who’s noticed. Everyone else is engrossed in a movie. Ho-hum. 86

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some flights, so I’d call dibs on the forward lavatory, galley and cockpit. Don’t tell anyone, but I spent more time in the left seat than anywhere else, and even figured out how to turn up the radio volume to listen to the tower as I was tidying up the flight deck. There was also that time I missed loading my parents’ luggage onto an Alitalia 747 bound for Rome, and the family kerfuffle that ensued. Or when, with my lead’s direction, I parked a baggage tractor a little too close to the safety line. The cowling of the #2 engine on the arriving British Airways 747 only ended up with a little scratch, honest. After a careful inspection, the outbound flight left on time, and I was relieved to have kept my job. For the rest of the summer, every time that 747 showed up at YYZ, the scratch was still there. G-AWNL was the plane’s registration. I will never forget it. I also remember being on a parked 707 that was blown about six feet by a powerful summer thunderstorm. Tonight, we’re delayed by lines of nasty storms west of the airport, so I’ve made a nest at my seat, and have the moving map ready on the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system display. I have a feeling that the first part of the flight is going to be sporty, as the pilots pick the

best route through the thunderstorms. And I think I’ll gently help my anxious seatmate by explaining everything that’s happening. The 777’s mighty GE90 engines launch us into the air, and I can see that we’re flying an unusual flightpath as we leave YYZ’s airspace. Lightning is flashing, and in the darkening twilight, I can make out the towering clouds all around us. It’s bumpy, but the aircraft is solid as we weave our way over southern Ontario. But then, I hear a muffled “boom,” and see lightning stream from the wingtip. I think we’ve had a lightning strike! Exciting, but not a problem for this 777 or any other commercial aircraft. I look around, and I might be the only passenger who’s noticed. Everyone else is engrossed in a movie on the IFE system, listening to music or playing a game on their personal device. Ho-hum. Once clear of the storms, our flight makes up some time across Canada and lands at YVR a few hours later. I hoped to ask the flight crew about our meteorological close encounter, but my usual post-flight need to “decant” takes precedence. Doesn’t matter, I’ve got another great story to tell. “Guess what happened on my flight from Toronto last week?” Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Upcoming APEX Events

For the most up-to-date event calendar visit > apex.aero

new location!

tec conference 8-9 June 2016 Los Angeles, USA #APEXTEC

multimedia market 18-20 April 2016 Amsterdam, Netherlands #APEXMarket

expo 2016 24-27 Oct. 2016 Singapore #APEXEXPO

multimedia market 18-20 April 2016 Amsterdam, Netherlands #APEXMarket

3 south america conference July 2016 São Paulo, Brazil

tec conference 8-9 June 2016 Los Angeles, USA #APEXTEC

expo 2016 24-27 October 2016 Singapore #APEXEXPO

2017-2018 EXPO Dates:

APEX Supports:

2017 – Long Beach, CA USA 25-28 September

hamburg aviation conference 10-11 February 2016 Hamburg, Germany

2018 – Boston, MA USA 24-27 September

next up: Spring Expo Issue 2016: volume 6, edition 2 The next issue of APEX Experience magazine will be fresh off the press as APEX members depart for AIX, APEX MultiMedia Market and other international industry events this spring. Get the pre-show scoop on buzzworthy trends and topics, including air-filled seat cushions, tablet mounts, Facebook Messenger, interior lighting and Wi-Fi-enabled advertising opportunities. Other stories look at the rising PaxEx of LCCs in Europe, new players on the connectivity scene, reimaginings of airline classes, Stellar Entertainment’s HQ revamp and more. It’s a big one!

volume 6, edition 1

Tweeting from one of our upcoming events? Be sure to use the designated hashtag so other members can join the conversation!

Airline Passenger Experience Association

illustration: freevectormap

south america conference July 2016 São Paulo, Brazil

apex experience

APEX MultiMedia Market Heads to Amsterdam

In less than two months, one of APEX’s most popular annual events, MultiMedia Market, will head to Amsterdam for the only global industry event focused specifically on bringing together in-flight entertainment buyers with leading worldwide vendors of TV shows, movies, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), games, audio and mobile apps. This year’s event will continue the established format with two days of tradeshow appointment booths and a non-appointment exhibit area, followed by a day of exciting educational programming focused on the future of in-flight content.

Study up! Cram on movie trivia at: > apex.aero/trivia

Some exciting highlights for this year’s event: > Educational programs will cover issues that are top-of-mind to airlines, content service providers and distributors, including: • Branding strategies • Advanced Wi-Fi streaming systems entering the market, as well as related studio requirements and security issues • GUI design, live TV strategies for capitalizing on in-air binge-watching > An expansive exhibit area designed to provide a one-stop shopping experience for all your in-flight content needs.

> Invaluable opportunities to connect with the world’s leading airlines and their content suppliers. In addition to informal mixers and market appointments, attendees will be treated to a memorable after-hours networking event. > The popular MultiMedia Quiz is back! Now’s the time to bone up on entertainment trivia, as well as think about which potential team members will help you take home the top prize, including an impressive trophy and bragging rights! Visit pages 94-110 for skill-testing trivia practice.

For any questions related to the event, please contact Lauren Beneri, director of Programs and Services, at lbeneri@apex.aero. Airline Passenger Experience Association

volume 6, edition 1

apex experience

APEX Ramps Up for Summer Events in the US and South America

Visit us at apex.aero

For more information visit > apex.aero

APEX regional events and meetings are an invaluable resource for members around the world. From in-flight innovations to crucial technical details that shape the passenger experience industry, APEX educational programming covers it all. Two popular events, APEX TEC and APEX South America, are just around the corner.

apex tec los angeles, us

apex south america são paulo, brazil For the second time, APEX will land in South America as part of the association’s goal to bring our popular educational programming to every corner of the globe. APEX South America will take place late July in São Paulo, 90

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Brazil. In addition to giving APEX members valuable exposure to the regional passenger experience market, expect to see exciting presentations and discussions ranging from cutting-edge in-flight connectivity technology to content streaming to Latin American passenger trends.

APEX global events are an excellent opportunity for members to meet one-onone with key industry players and executives. Stay tuned for registration information for both events and contact info@apex.aero with any questions. Please also visit the events section of apex.aero. Airline Passenger Experience Association

photo: latinstock

In line with recent efforts to collaborate with like-minded groups, this summer’s APEX Technology Conference, June 8-9, will colocate with the Global Connected Aircraft (GCA) Summit, June 6-8. Hosted by the APEX Technology Committee, TEC events are among the most respected in the industry, setting the standard for airline passenger technology while providing crucial guidance, analysis and trend reporting on critical technology issues. The colocation of APEX TEC and the GCA Summit will provide attendees the opportunity to maximize value of their participation over the four days. Attendees will have expanded opportunities to meet fellow industry members, airline executives, cybersecurity professionals, technologists and subject matter experts. Attendees will be able to hear from both groups’ knowledgeable speakers and leaders about the future of the aerospace industry, connectivity and evolving passenger needs.

apex experience

APEX to Partner with FTE, AIX for Largest PaxEx Event in Asia After three years of testing the waters in Asia via regional events, APEX will dive in headfirst for what is expected to be the most massive passenger experience tradeshow the continent has seen. APEX EXPO, October 24-27, in Singapore, will join forces with Aircraft Interiors Expo Asia (AIX Asia) and Future Travel Experience (FTE Asia Expo) for a show designed to be fully representative of the air travel experience from start to finish.

With the expanded tradeshow footprint, attendees can expect the same popular event features as always, including worldclass speakers and panels, and unmatched networking opportunities. Registration for APEX EXPO will open in Summer 2016. Visit the EXPO section of apex.aero for more information, including updates leading up to the event and how your company can be a sponsor. Contact info@apex.aero with any questions you may have.

The decision to colocate the events represents a new effort on the part of the association to collaborate with like-minded groups for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

> EXPOSURE: At an event of this magnitude, it pays to make an appearance. Your company will be front and center to thousands of new global business partners.

> NEW SECTORS: In keeping with APEXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy of expanding its base and providing more value to players, EXPO 2016 has evolved to be more comprehensive than ever. With the addition of FTE and AIX, attendees will have access to more representation from the ground experience and aircraft interiors, as well as a section devoted entirely to the exciting tech sector.

photo: Marina Bay

why apex expo 2016 will be a must-exhibit event:

> REGIONAL INROADS: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that Asia is a fast-growing region that is crucial to the passenger experience industry. The sooner your brand can make inroads at events like EXPO, the better positioned you will be in the future.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

volume 6, edition 1

IFSA

apex experience

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IFSA President’s Letter Our annual conference and expo is getting a bit of a redesign as well. A few new things I can mention are a new-member pavilion and a new-product showcase – both invaluable opportunities to get either your brand or new product in front of the IFSA airline members. Don’t forget our exciting Chef’s Competition and an industry keynote speaker. Information about the conference and expo can always be found on our website and will continue to be updated. The Government Affairs and Education Committee is finalizing an updated version of the World Food Safety Guidelines, which will be an important resource available to members only. In 2016, IFSA will provide training opportunities on these guidelines as well as other regulatory matters for further education. In addition, we have launched an “Ask a Food Safety Expert” section on the IFSA website. We are extremely proud of IFSA’s Scholarship Foundation program. To date, we have given over $400,000 in scholarship money. Please be on the lookout and spread the word as the application and giving

process for these scholarships start to ramp up for 2016. I want to extend a big thank you to all of our members for the continuous dedication through the years. We all take a lot of pride in what we have done for the past 50 years with IFSA and want to be an association on the cutting edge of new ideas and approaches. Here’s to the next 50!

Best, > Jane Bernier-Tran President International Flight Services Association

photo: IFSA

First, I hope everyone had a joyful and safe holiday season. The holidays are always a busy time of year for the onboard industry and this year was no exception. 2016 is officially upon us and with this new year, comes a new IFSA. For one, the new official logo for the IFSA conference and expo has been unveiled and our members will notice a great change in the design of our monthly newsletter. This is all in an effort to create a more recognizable and cohesive branding for IFSA now and in the future. Website updates are happening more frequently and will now incorporate the latest information on regional and annual events as well as industry news. IFSA staff has been working in partnership with the committees to ensure our main event in Chicago, September 19-21, 2016, will be one no member will want to miss! As a members-only association, the annual conference and expo is specifically designed to provide many benefits, including networking opportunities where you’re able to meet decision-makers in the onboard services industry.

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IFSA

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Save the Date: Join IFSA in Chicago IFSA will be hosting its annual conference and expo September 19-21, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Join hundreds of airline, caterer and supplier executives from around the globe committed to elevating the onboard passenger experience. This is your opportunity to build relationships with decisionmakers at our premier three-day event. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: >> Networking with the who’s who of the industry >> Tradeshow featuring the latest in-flight passenger experience >> Chef’s Competition >> New-Member Pavilion >> Education Sessions on World Food Safety Guidelines

For more information, contact ifsainbox@kellencompany.com or visit IFSAnet.com.

Can’t wait until September?

Attend our regional networking event in Atlanta, February 4, 2016.

photos: IFSA, world of coca-cola

IFSA brings you to the

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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CONTENT. TECHNICAL. PRODUCTION. www.stellargroup.com

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What to look for in the months ahead

Coming Attractions w

The 5th Wave

Director: J Blakeson Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maggie Siff, Alex Roe, Maria Bello Four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother as she prepares to survive the inevitable and lethal 5th wave.

This Academy Award-winning actor plays Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl. find answers at apex.aero/trivia

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi w

Director: Michael Bay Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Dominic Fumusa, Max Martini, James Badge Dale, Toby Stephens An action-thriller based on the true story of six security team members who fought to defend the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi from an attack by Islamist militants on September 11, 2012, the eleventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Distributor: Paramount Pictures Contact: Joan Filippini

Kate Mercer is about to celebrate her 45th wedding anniversary, but when a letter arrives for her husband announcing the body of his first love has been discovered frozen and preserved in the icy glaciers of the Swiss Alps, there may not be a marriage left to celebrate. Distributor: Skeye Inflight Entertainment Contact: Isabelle Bégin * excluding France, North America, Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, UK

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Ange et Gabrielle (Love at First Child) w

Director: Andres Haigh Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Geraldine James, Tom Courtenay

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

45 Years

I: outside north amErica

Director: Anne Giafferi Cast: Isabelle Carré, Patrick Bruel Ange is having a normal day until a frantic woman, Gabrielle, turns up at his office, claiming his son has gotten her daughter pregnant. Problem is, Ange has no son. He tries to avoid Gabrielle, but is drawn to this proud single mother who wreaks havoc in his life. Distributor: Skeye Inflight Entertainment Contact: Isabelle Bégin * excluding France, Andorra, Monaco, US

W: WorldWide

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing Contact: Rana Matthes

INNOVATIVE

New, advanced and original. www.stellargroup.com

photos: © Sun Entertainment Culture Ltd.; Eros International Media Ltd.; © Paramount Pictures; © 2015 Altitude Film Entertainment Ltd.; Dana Hawley; © 2014 Capital Intelectual S.A. / Matanza Cine / El Deseo

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Anniversary

Director: Patrick Kong Cast: Alex Fong, Stephy Tang, Joy Sheng After a tumultuous decade-long relationship, Wah and Po decide to celebrate their anniversary with a trip. Coincidently, Wah re-encounters his former secretary and the couple recalls Wah’s affair with her. In the end, Po decides to tell Wah why she refuses to have their baby.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Director: Kabir Khan Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Harshaali Malhotra A man with a magnanimous spirit tries to take a young, mute Pakistani girl back to her homeland to reunite her with her family.

Ben-Hur

Director: Timur Bekmambetov Cast: Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman A Hebrew prince survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his adopted brother, now a Roman officer, who falsely accused him of treason. Distributor: Paramount Pictures Contact: Joan Filippini

Distributor: Eros International Media Ltd. Contact: Prashant Gaonkar

Distributor: Encore Inflight Limited Contact: Edwin Cheung

Will Smith gained celebrity status on this 90s TV show.

* excluding Mainland China

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Bolshoi Babylon

The Choice

Directors: Nick Read, Mark Franchetti Cast: Maria Alexandrova, Maria Allash, Anastasia Meskova, Vladimir Urin, Sergei Filin

Director: Ross Katz Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace, Alexandra Daddario, Tom Welling, Tom Wilkinson

Behind the curtains of the Bolshoi, Russia’s most famed and notorious ballet company, are stories of backstabbing and intrigue that reach a new level after the sulfuric acid attack on director Sergei Filin by one of the company’s dancers.

When feisty medical student Gabby Holland moves in next door to perennial ladies’ man Travis Shaw, they embark on a romantic journey. Spanning a decade and tracing the evolution of a love affair, this story culminates with the question: how far would you go to keep love alive?

Distributor: Jaguar Distribution Corp. Contact: France Capor * excluding UK, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji

Distributor: Entertainment In Motion Contact: Lynda Harriss

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

Airline Passenger Experience Association

N: North america

I: outside north amErica

The Clan

Director: Pablo Trapero Cast: Guillermo Francella, Peter Lanzani, Lili Popovich Arquímedes conceives a plan to have his eldest son, a star rugby player, identify candidates for kidnapping. Using his son’s popularity to shield him from suspicion, the family becomes an accomplice as they live off the large ransoms paid by the families of their victims. Distributor: Encore Inflight Limited Contact: Edwin Cheung * excluding North America, Latin America, Spain, UK

W: WorldWide

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JEFF CRAWFORD

jeff.crawford@warnerbros.com

ANGELICA McCOY angelica.mccoy@warnerbros.com wbnts.warnerbros.com

CREATIVE

Embracing imagination. www.stellargroup.com

photos: Sony Pictures Releasing; HBO/Frank Masi © 2015 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO® and all related programs are the property of Home Box Office, Inc; © 2016 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved; © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. Marvel ™ & © 2016 Marvel & Subs; © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved; Murray Close

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Concussion

Confirmation

Director: Peter Landesman Cast: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, Luke Wilson

Director: Rick Famuyiwa Cast: Kerry Washington, Wendell Pierce, Greg Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Eric Stonestreet, Jennifer Hudson

Based on the true story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu who discovered CTE, a footballrelated brain trauma in a pro-player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the world’s most powerful institutions.

This television drama film details the explosive 1991 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings that brought the country to a standstill and forever changed the way we think about sexual harassment, victims’ rights and modern-day race relations.

Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing Contact: Rana Matthes

Distributor: HBO Contact: Kalliope Diakos or Jane Chapman

The Danish Girl

Director: Tom Hopper Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Ben Whishaw Set in 1920s Copenhagen, the remarkable love story inspired by the true lives, marriage and work of artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, as they evolve and navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as one of history’s first transgender pioneers. This actor appears Distributor: Universal Pictures Contact: Phyllis Bagdadi

* excluding Australia, New Zealand

as a half-human in both Ex Machina and Seventh Son. find answers at apex.aero/trivia

* excluding Canada

Deadpool

Director: Tim Miller Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand Former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with new abilities and a twisted sense of humor, he hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Contact: Julian Levin

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, Judah Lewis Davis Mitchell struggles after losing his wife in a car crash. What starts as a complaint letter to a vending machine company turns into a series of letters that catch the attention of customer service rep, Karen Mareno. Amidst emotional and financial burdens of her own, the two form an unlikely connection. Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Contact: Julian Levin

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Director: Robert Schwentke Cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Octavia Spencer, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, Naomi Watts After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris must escape with Four beyond the wall that encircles Chicago to finally discover the shocking truth of what lies behind it. Distributor: Entertainment In Motion Contact: Lynda Harriss

* US only

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Demolition

N: North america

I: outside north amErica

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PROACTIVE

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The Finest Hours

Galaxy Turnpike

The Girl King

Director: Craig Gillespie Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Holliday Grainger, Eric Bana, Ben Foster

Director: Koki Mitani Cast: Shingo Katori, Haruka Ayase, Shinobu Otake, Toshiyuki Nishida, Yuka

Director: Mika Kaurismäki Cast: Malin Buska, Sarah Gadon, Michael Nyqvist, Lucas Bryant

A heroic action-thriller based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history. It transports audiences to the Pendleton rescue mission in 1952 by Coast Guard ships, wherein two oil tankers were split asunder by a nor’easter.

The renowned interspace highway, Galaxy Turnpike, is experiencing hardship and rumours of its impending abandonment abound. Despite being extraterrestrials, the travelers who share their personal burdens at hamburger joint Sando Sando Burger Cosmo Branch, seem overwhelmingly human.

Pulled between Lutheran and Catholic forces conspiring for her allegiance, Queen Kristina also faces an internal struggle – falling deeply in love with her lady in waiting – that forces her to make one of the greatest and most scandalous decisions in history.

Distributor: Disney Studios Non-Theatrical Contact: Ruth Walker

Distributor: Emphasis Video Entertainment Limited Contact: Grace Lau * excluding Japan

Gods of Egypt

Director: Alex Proyas Cast: Gerard Butler, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Brenton Thwaites, Chadwick Boseman, Courtney Eaton, Geoffrey Rush In order to bring his true love back to life, a clever mortal thief teams up with a powerful and vengeful god in order to stop the merciless god of darkness who hopes to destroy both this life and the afterlife. Distributor: Entertainment In Motion Contact: Lynda Harriss

The Good Dinosaur

Distributor: Encore Inflight Limited Contact: Edwin Cheung * excluding Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Canada

Director: Peter Sohn Cast: Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright, Steve Zahn, A.J. Buckley, Anna Paquin, Sam Elliott An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. Traveling through a harsh landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers his true abilities.

Hero

Director: Nikhil Advani Cast: Athiya Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi A boy and a girl find themselves stuck in a whirlpool of such intense love that they would do anything, go to any extent and face all odds for the one they love. Distributor: Eros International Media Ltd. Contact: Prashant Gaonkar

Distributor: Disney Studios Non-Theatrical Contact: Ruth Walker

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

Airline Passenger Experience Association

N: North america

I: outside north amErica

This director’s latest film is generating as much award buzz as his last Academy Award-winning film, Birdman. find answers at apex.aero/trivia

W: WorldWide

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ATTENTIVE

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Jane Got a Gun

Director: Gavin O’Connor Cast: Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Joel Edgerton, Noah Emmerich

How to Be Single

Director: Christian Ditter Cast: Alison Brie, Jake Lacy, Dakota Johnson, Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, Rebel Wilson

A woman is writing a book on how women around the world should manage singlehood. As she embarks on a global research tour, she finds herself involved in an international affair, while her four friends fend for themselves on the New York dating scene. Distributor: Warner Bros. Contact: Jeff Crawford

Jane Hammond is a good girl married to one of the worst bad guys in town. When her husband turns against his own gang, the vicious Bishop Boys, Jane knows it’s time to ditch the dress for a pair of pants and strap on her own gun. Distributor: Jaguar Distribution Corp. Contact: France Capor

What’s the name of Snoopy’s feathered sidekick? find answers at apex.aero/trivia

Joy

Director: David O. Russell Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Édgar Ramírez, Bradley Cooper A cross-generational story centered on the girl who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty. Betrayal, treachery, love and loss of innocence pave the road in this intense and emotional comedy about becoming an enterprise and facing a world of unforgiving commerce.

Knight of Cups

Director: Terrence Malick Cast: Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Jason Clarke, Antonio Banderas A story of a man, temptations, celebrity and excess. Distributor: Terry Steiner International Contact: Nadja Rutkowski * excluding US

Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Contact: Julian Levin

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Directors: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni Cast: Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Lucy Liu When Po’s long-lost father suddenly appears, the reunited duo travels to a secret paradise. But when supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China, defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible – train his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of fighters. Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Contact: Julian Levin * excluding China and Korea

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

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N: North america

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PERSONAL

Between individuals. www.stellargroup.com

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Lady in the Van

Director: Nicholas Hytner Cast: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent, Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam Based on the true story of Miss Shepherd, a woman who “temporarily” parked her van in writer Alan Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. What begins as a begrudged favor becomes a relationship that will change both their lives. Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing Contact: Rana Matthes

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Lauda: The Untold Story

Les Aventures d’Anthony

Director: Hannes Michael Schalle Cast: James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Mark Weber

Director: Janet Chun Cast: Bai Baihe, Liu Chang, Tang Yi Xin, Vivian Sung

In 1976, Niki Lauda survived one of the most famous crashes in Formula One history. Using previously unseen footage, the film explains what happened on that near fatal day at the Nürburgring, then follows Lauda’s courageous journey to recovery culminating in a miraculous comeback in Monza just weeks later. Distributor: Terry Steiner International Contact: Alex DiGiovanna

* excluding Canada

Anthony and his best friend Ying have left China – he, to study in Melbourne, and she, to study in Japan. When he receives no news from her, he travels to Japan where he recognizes his true feelings for her. Distributor: Emphasis Video Entertainment Limited Contact: Grace Lau * excluding China

Les Nouvelles Aventures d’Aladin w

Director: Arthur Benzaquen Cast: Kev Adams, Jean-Paul Rouve, Vanessa Guide On Christmas Eve, Sam and his best friend dress up as Santa with plans to steal from a department store. But Sam gets cornered by some children and is forced to tell them a story, the story of Aladdin – his version, at least – set in the heart of Baghdad, the city of a She plays a hippie art teacher in thousand and one riches. Distributor: Skeye Inflight Entertainment Contact: Isabelle Bégin

Limbo

Director: Lucio Pellegrini Cast: Kasia Smutniak, Adriano Giannini, Filippo Nigro, Domenico Diele

Grace and Frankie and a spunky grandma in her latest film.

Distributor: Encore Inflight Limited Contact: Edwin Cheung * excluding Italy, Vatican, Monaco, San Marino, Italian speaking Switzerland, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, Canada

find answers at apex.aero/trivia

* excluding France, DOM TOM

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

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Manuela returns home to a seaside town near Rome after having served in the military. With anger, determination and sacrifice, she manages to build the life she dreamed of, becoming a platoon commander at an operating base in the Afghan desert, responsible for the life and death of 30 men.

N: North america

I: outside north amErica

W: WorldWide

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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Skills and knowledge over time. www.stellargroup.com

photos: © 2015 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved; © 2015 Alchemy; © 2016 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved; © 2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.; © 2015 Film Bridge International; © Studio Canal. All Rights Reserved.

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Meet the Patels

Directors: Geeta Patel, Ravi Patel Cast: Ravi Patel, Champa Patel, Vasant Patel, Meredith Philpott

Macbeth

A thrilling interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous and compelling characters, Macbeth: a fearless Scottish General whose ambitious wife urges him to use wicked means to gain power of the throne in a tale of allconsuming passion and ambition.

Director: Justin Kurzel Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine

After nabbing a Golden Globe this year, this actor’s hoping he’ll break his so-called Oscar curse.

Distributor: Terry Steiner International Contact: Nadja Rutkowski * US only

A laugh-out-loud, real-life, romantic comedy about Ravi Patel, an almost 30-year-old IndianAmerican who enters a love triangle between the woman of his dreams and his parents. This upbeat and heartwarming film reveals how love is really a family affair. Distributor: Jaguar Distribution Corp. Contact: France Capor * North America, Latin America, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Benelux, Germany, UK, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, GREECE, EASTERN EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, SOUTH AFRICA

find answers at apex.aero/trivia

Midnight Special

Misconduct

Director: Jeff Nichols Cast: Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, Joel Edgerton, Adam Driver, Sam Shepard, Jaeden Lieberher

Director: Shintaro Shimosawa Cast: Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Malin Ackerman, Alice Eve, Byung-hun Lee

A father goes on the run to protect his son and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers. What starts as a race from religious extremists and local law enforcement escalates into a nationwide manhunt. Ultimately, the father risks everything to fulfill a destiny that could change the world.

An ambitious young lawyer takes on a huge lawsuit against the ruthless executive of a pharmaceutical company, only to find himself drawn into a murder case in which he is the prime suspect.

Distributor: Warner Bros. Contact: Jeff Crawford * worldwide

Distributor: Jaguar Distribution Corp. Contact: France Capor

Mon Roi

Director: Maïwenn Cast: Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Bercot Tony is admitted to a rehabilitation center after a serious ski accident. During that time, she looks back on a turbulent relationship with Georgio. Why did they love each other? Who is this man she loved so deeply? How did she allow herself to submit to this destructive passion? Distributor: Skeye Inflight Entertainment Contact: Isabelle Bégin * excluding USA, Canada, Benelux

Distributor: Terry Steiner International Contact: Nadja Rutkowski * UK, Greece, India, Turkey, Middle East

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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INNOVATIVE

New, advanced and original. www.stellargroup.com

apex experience

Norm of the North

The Other Side of the Door

Director: Trevor Wall Cast: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Gabriel Iglesias, Loretta Devine, Bill Nighy

Director: Johannes Roberts Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Javier Botet

A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do – he heads to New York City to stop it.

Grieving the loss of her son, a mother seeks out a ritual that allows her to say goodbye to her dead child, opening the veil between the world of the dead and the living. She must now protect against the evil that was once her beloved son. Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Contact: Julian Levin

Distributor: Entertainment In Motion Contact: Lynda Harriss

Visit us at apex.aero

Our Little Sister

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Cast: Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirose Sisters Sachi, Yoshino and Chika live in a large house in Kamakura. When their father dies, they travel to the countryside for his funeral where they meet their shy teenage half-sister. Bonding quickly, they invite Suzu to live with them and a new life begins for the four siblings. Distributor: Encore Inflight Limited Contact: Edwin Cheung * excluding Japan

Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett play forbidden lovers in the 1950s in this film. find answers at apex.aero/trivia

Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict w

Director: Lisa Immordino Vreeland Cast: Peggy Guggenheim Peggy Guggenheim, a bohemian and socialite, built one of the most important personal collections of modern art. She collected not only art, but works by artists with a personal history that included Samuel Beckett, Max Ernst, Jackson Pollock, Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp and countless others. Distributor: Jaguar Distribution Corp. Contact: France Capor

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies *

Director: Burr Steers Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote, Douglas Booth, Matt Smith

* excluding Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

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A zombie outbreak has ensued in this reimagining of the Jane Austen classic. Elizabeth Bennet is a master of martial arts and weaponry and Mr. Darcy is a fierce zombie killer. Together, they join forces to conquer the undead. Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing Contact: Rana Matthes * Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Islands, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia, St. Martin, Turks & Caicos, US, excluding Bahamas, Netherlands Antilles/Dutch, Puerto Rico, Surinam/ Dutch, US Virgin Islands, USSR (former), but including Moldova

W: WorldWide

Airline Passenger Experience Association

photos: Good Universe; © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved; © 2015 Akimi Yoshida, Shogakukan / Fuji Television Network Inc. / Shogakukan Inc. / Toho Co, Ltd. / Gaga Corporation; © 2015 Hanway; Sony Pictures Releasing

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Ride Along 2

Race

Director: Stephen Hopkins Cast: Stephan James, Carice van Houten, Jeremy Irons, Jason Sudeikis, William Hurt

Based on the true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy. Distributor: Entertainment In Motion Contact: Lynda Harriss

Now a full-fledged Atlanta cop, Ben Barber wants to make it as a detective. But Ben’s soon-to-be brother-in-law is annoyed by his tactics. Before Ben can marry his sister, their boss assigns them to a case in Miami where they are tasked with bringing down an extremely dangerous drug lord. Distributor: Universal Pictures Contact: Phyllis Bagdadi

Not in reference to the zombie cult flick, Shaun may refer to this animated film starring fluffy farm animals. find answers at apex.aero/trivia

Risen

Saving Mr. Wu

Director: Kevin Reynolds Cast: Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth,Cliff Curtis

Director: Ding Sheng Cast: Andy Lau, Liu Ye, Wu Ruofu, Wang Qianyuan

Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion in order to disprove rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.

Hong Kong actor Wu Ruofu is abducted in Beijing and cruelly tormented. Despite it all, he demonstrates an extraordinary calm. Based on true events, the film sees the battle of wits between the police, the underworld and Mr. Wu himself.

Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing Contact: Rana Matthes

Distributor: Emphasis Video Entertainment Limited Contact: Grace Lau

Singh is Bliing

Director: Prabhu Dheva Cast: Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson Raftaar Singh spends his days dancing and jumping through fire hula-hoops at fairs in Bassi Pathana. While his mother caters to his appetite with home-cooked jalebis, his father asks Raftaar to choose a path – either get married or move to Goa and work under his father’s friend. Distributor: Eros International Media Ltd. Contact: Prashant Gaonkar

* excluding China, North America, Latin America

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

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W: WorldWide

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Director: Tim Story Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Olivia Munn

QUALITY, INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILMS WWW.PENNYBLACKMEDIA.COM

CTROTTA@PENNYBLACKMEDIA.COM

PROACTIVE

Forward–thinking. www.stellargroup.com

photos: © 2016 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved; © Paramount Pictures; © ™ 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved; STAR WARS © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization; © Paramount Pictures

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Sisters

Director: Jason Moore Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph Two adult sisters are reunited when they are summoned to their parents’ home to clean out their childhood bedrooms. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw one final party for their high-school classmates, which turns into a cathartic rager for the rag-tag team of grounddown grown-ups.

Star Trek Beyond

Director: Justin Lin Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho The further adventures of James T. Kirk, Spock and the rest of the Enterprise crew.

Director: J.J. Abrams Cast: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.

Distributor: Paramount Pictures Contact: Joan Filippini

He gained Netflix popularity with his stand-up specials and now has his own show on the network.

Distributor: Universal Pictures Contact: Phyllis Bagdadi

Star Wars: The Force Awakens w

Distributor: Disney Studios Non-Theatrical Contact: Ruth Walker

find answers at apex.aero/trivia

Star Wars Saga

Directors: George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen For the first time, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi will be released for in-flight entertainment in January 2016.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Distributor: Disney Studios Non-Theatrical Contact: Ruth Walker

Director: Dave Green Cast: Alan Ritchson, Brian Tee, Gary Anthony Williams, Jeremy Howard, Johnny Knoxville, Megan Fox

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

Airline Passenger Experience Association

N: North america

I: outside north amErica

The turtles return to fight evil in this sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to save the city from a dangerous threat. Distributor: Paramount Pictures Contact: Joan Filippini

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ATTENTIVE

Showing full consideration. www.stellargroup.com

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UNindian

Director: Anupam Sharma Cast: Brett Lee, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Supriya Pathak, Akash Khurana

The Throne

Director: Lee Joon-ik Cast: Song Kang-ho, Yoo Ah-in, Moon Geun-young, So Ji-sub

King Yeongjo has high regal ambitions for his son. But meanwhile, the crown prince cares more for martial arts and painting and longs for a benevolent father rather than a strict king. The clash in their expectations for one another causes tension in their relationship.

Distributor: Penny Black Media Contact: Cathie Trotta

She plays a blues songstress in Bessie but is a singer in her own right.

Distributor: Emphasis Video Entertainment Limited Contact: Grace Lau * excluding Korea, Taiwan, Japan

find answers at apex.aero/trivia

Very Semi-Serious

Director: Leah Wolchok Cast: Roz Chast, Mort Gerberg, Liana Finck, Bob Mankoff An unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at The New Yorker and the legends and hopefuls who create the iconic cartoons that have inspired, baffled – and occasionally pissed off – all of us for decades. Distributor: Terry Steiner International Contact: Alex DiGiovanna

Welcome Back

Director: Ben Stiller Cast: Ben Stiller, Penélope Cruz, Owen Wilson, Jonah Hill, Christine Taylor, Billy Zane

A pair of reformed gangsters try to find a husband for their newly discovered sister, but complications arise due to mistaken identities.

In the long-awaited sequel to the 2001 comedy of male model-turned-assassin Derek Zoolander more than a decade after the events of the first film, Derek and Hansel are modeling again when an opposing company attempts to take them out from the business.

Distributor: Eros International Media Ltd. Contact: Prashant Gaonkar

Distributor: Paramount Pictures Contact: Joan Filippini

DISTRIBUTION rights codes

volume 6, edition 1

Zoolander 2

Director: Anees Bazmee Cast: John Abraham, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Shruti Haasan, Ankita Srivastava

* excluding US

110

N: North america

I: outside north amErica

W: WorldWide

Airline Passenger Experience Association

Meera is a single mother of Indian origin living in Sydney. Despite family pressure to find “a nice Indian match,” she follows her heart and meets an Australian man named Will.

Hotels

apex experience

Room and Board In this industry, we’re often on the go. Whether traveling for a conference, business meeting or taking a break in between, here are a few great places to stay around the world.

Hotel IX Amsterdam

Stern am Rathaus

Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Cologne, Germany

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

AMS, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Euro

Calling code: +31

photos: IX Hotel, Constantin Meyer, Jumeirah Group Media

Commute time to airport: 25 mins

CGN, Cologne Bonn Airport

Euro

Calling code: +49

Commute time to airport: 20 mins

DBX, Dubai International Airport United Arab Emirates Dirham

Calling code: +971

Commute time to airport: 30 mins

why you’ll go

While in town for APEX’s MultiMedia Market, Hotel IX’s 17th-century building ensures you won’t escape the city’s historic charm. You’ll also be well positioned to visit the area’s trendy shops.

You may be in town for the 2016 Passenger Terminal EXPO, but don’t go without visiting the Cologne Cathedral or taking in the sweeping views of the Rhine via cable car or boat.

Located between Europe and Asia, Dubai has quickly risen to become one of the world’s most important aviation hubs. Its airport has even surpassed international passenger traffic at HND, LAX and LHR.

why you’ll stay

If you’re lucky enough to score the second-floor Berenstraat suite, equipped with a Nespresso machine, you’ll have the enviable pleasure of taking in pointy-housed views of the city’s colorful rooftops from your private terrace.

While wandering the cobblestone streets of Old Town, don’t let the city’s history be lost on you: Now bustling with boutiques and brew houses, these squares and narrow alleys were once a WWII battleground.

For a short sojourn, don’t leave the hotel grounds. Stroll through the courtyard gardens or travel by boat via its private waterways. While living the high life, call your personal butler to fetch you a drink on the beach.

fun fact

Schiphol literally means “ship graveyard.” The airport was constructed on the site of a drained lake where many shipwrecks occurred in the late 1800s.

Cologne is home to Kölsch, the local beer, and Eau de Cologne, the original men’s perfume – before its definition became diluted.

Don’t be surprised if you see Dubai police on traffic duty in a Ferrari FF or Lamborghini Aventador. That’s just how they roll.

Airline Passenger Experience Association

volume 6, edition 1

113

Throwback

apex experience

Fell in love with the woman sitting in 13A

In search of a guitar player Guam (GUM)

Flight CO006

Narita

Istanbul

(NRT )

(IST )

Please contact me, lovely woman with long dark hair Queretaro (QRO)

Visit us at apex.aero

Flight CO2028

Houston (IAH)

Flight HV6584

by Katie Sehl

“We met on a delayed flight from Philadelphia to Denver,” writes one hopeful romantic on Wemetonaplane.com, a website that tries to reconnect seatmates who might have hit it off. “It was your first time flying and you sat in a window seat next to me, in seat 19F. We chatted a bit and seemed to hit it off … We parted ways without a name or a phone number, but I would love to connect with you, wherever you are.” According to the website’s founder, Australian Will Scully-Power, around 4,400 people search “met on a plane” on Google 114

volume 6, edition 1

(AMS)

I regret not saying hello, but am grateful for the feeling you gave me Frankfurt

Missed Connections Love is, literally, in the air – and a website shares the stories of those who found romance on an airplane.

Amsterdam

worldwide every month. But that wasn’t the only reason he decided to launch the site back in 2011: He also met his girlfriend on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney. Scully-Power’s love-at-first-flight romance made him consider others who felt sparks were flying, but didn’t think to exchange contact information. “What if they didn’t swap details? How would they actually connect without knowing their name?” he mused. Lost lovers can search for each other on the site using their flight number, year or month of travel, or the flight’s origin and destination. If that fails, they can write their story and then share it far and wide on Facebook and Twitter, in the hope that the Internet may help align the paths of the ill-starred lovers once again. Thousands of stories, modern messages in bottles, have been cast into cyberspace via the website. For reasons unknown, most of the recounted ardors originate in eastern Europe, Scully-Power says.

(FRA)

Flight LX1073

Zurich (ZRH)

Looking for love? Watch these romantic airport scenes at > apex.aero/ airportlove

In addition to messages from those still searching, there are many love stories from those who met their sweethearts on an airplane. “I don’t have to search for him – I married him [26] years ago,” writes one of the lucky ones who found true love on a flight from St. Louis International Airport to London Heathrow in 1989. “After an eight-hour date with dinner and a movie, we exchanged addresses and phone numbers (no e-mail back then!).” For some, it seems, the oft-derided middle armrest may be a pretense for romance.

If you are an APEX member who is interested in contributing to the Throwback page, please submit your personal stories relating to the airline industry, or a moment or product in aviation history, to editor@apex.aero

Airline Passenger Experience Association

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