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EMIRATES LOOKS p. TO CANADA
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SIAL AND THE MERCURYS p.
EDITOR’S LETTER
UP, UP AND AWAY
PAX International 26 Pearl Street, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 1X2, Canada Tel: (1 905) 821-3344 Fax: (1 905) 821-2777 website: www.pax-intl.com
PUBLISHER Aijaz Khan E-mail: aijaz@globalmarketingcom.ca
EDITORIAL OFFICES Rick Lundstrom, Editor-in-Chief PAX International 723 Jefferson Street, NE Minneapolis, MN 55413, USA Tel: (1 612) 378-0862
I
t wasn’t until the spring of my 24th year that I embarked upon my first-ever airplanepowered journey, from the still-cold burbs of Toronto to the hazy, lazy shores of Fort Myers, Florida. Despite holding apprehension toward almost every other conceivable event, concept or item – from the standards (heights; stepping on cracks in the sidewalk) to the absurd (kittens with too-sharp claws; ladybugs) – air travel inexplicably did not intimidate me. As we took off that frosty March morning, I pressed my nose to the window beside my seat and didn’t tear my eyes away from the sights below until we had escaped above the cloud cover. More than a decade after that first trek, I still enjoy all air travel has to offer – and not just the destinations. I love comparing the details on each plane I board, from the food offerings, to the uniforms of the attendants, to the legroom surrounding the seats. (As a woman of barely five feet in height, I count myself lucky that the latter is never an issue.) I’m the one you’ll see across the aisle before takeoff, poring over the emergency landing guide and following the safety video or in-cabin demonstration with rapt attention; no matter how many times I experience these seemingly mundane rituals, I feel as though each time is my first. As a result, I appreciate the time and effort that goes into these particulars – and now, as a member of the PAX International team, I am excited to take a peek behind the curtain and discover just how dozens of partners come together to make each and every flight a success. My travels have only just begun – in fact, I had the opportunity this past November to take my longest journey yet, miles-wise, to Santiago, Chile, to experience LATAM Airline’s exciting new Economy Class dining experience. (You can find a summary of the event in this issue.) In the future, I hope to meet many of you at the trade shows we cover and pepper you with questions about this fascinating industry in-person. If you need to find me, I’ll be the short brunette wandering through the expo halls with a look of wonder on her face and her eyes to the sky – literally and figuratively. Rachel Debling Editor, PAX International
Fax: (1 612) 378-0852 E-mail: rick@pax-intl.com Rachel Debling, Editor Tel: (1 905) 821-3344 x21 E-mail: rachel@pax-intl.com Ash Khan, Editorial and Marketing Assistant Tel: (1 905) 821-3344 x30 E-mail: ash@pax-intl.com CONTRIBUTORS Mary Jane Pittilla
A R T D E PA R T M E N T Jessica Hearn E-mail: jessica@globalmarketingcom.ca
ADVERTISING OFFICES Kevin Greene, Advertising Sales Executive Tel: (1 905) 821-3344 x31 E-mail: kevin@pax-intl.com PAX International is published six times a year (January/February, March/April, May, June/July/August, September/October, November/December) by PAX International, 26 Pearl Street, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 1X2, Canada. International Distribution. Subscriptions: $200 for one year; $300 for two years; $400 for three years. Art and photographs will not be returned unless accompanied by return postage. The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher or editor. December 2017, Vol. 24, No. 8. Printed in Canada. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. © PAX International magazine
ISSN 1206-5714 Key title: Pax International
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Contents INTERIORS
16 THE A380 SOLUTION
Singapore Airlines’ was launch customer for the A380. Now the airline is adding a fresh look to cabin. PAX International talked with one of the lead designers for insight into the airline’s strategy
20 ORDERED TO THE MAX
This year’s Dubai Airshow saw billions of dollars changing hands, and a hometown airline among the biggest headline grabbers
24
FOOD SERVICE
21 UPLIFTING CUISINE
LATAM has re-envisioned Economy Class dining with an array of gourmet meals and a modern, space-saving design that must be seen (and tasted) to be believed
24 EMIRATES’ CANADA CONNECTION
Now starting its 11th year of service, the airline has increased capacity to the country by adding the A380 three times per week and fostered code-sharing agreements, increasing its profile in the country
AMENITIES
26 HIGH-FLYING DESIGNS
A young Emirati designer has won a competition held by Etihad Airways to create onboard loungewear
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY 29 A SOURCE FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Galileo Watermark has developed a new range of cosmetic products with a hint of the sea in the packaging and an eye toward helping clean the world’s oceans
32 WASTE NO MORE
Dozens of in flight products are being evaluated for reuse in a program that teams LSG Sky Chefs, Air New Zealand and the government
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ON THE COVER: Cheese service in privacy and comfort on Emirates. See story on page 24
IFE AND CONNECTIVITY
33 THE CABIN CONNECTION
Since this year’s APEX event in Long Beach and Dubai Airshow, Rockwell Collins has added new customers for its front-to-back connectivity systems
EVENT NEWS
36 WHAT TO EXPECT AT WTCE 2018 21
LATAM’S NEW ECONOMY MENU p.
24
EMIRATES LOOKS p. TO CANADA
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SIAL AND THE MERCURYS p.
DEPARTMENTS 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
6
NEWS
14
PEOPLE NEWS
44
WHAT’S HOT
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ASSOCIATION NEWS
4 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
Improved technology, new exhibitors and tasty inspirations will again beckon the industry to Passenger Experience week
38 SALUTING PEOPLE AND MACHINES
This year’s awards evening of the Airline Passenger Experience Association honored notable advancements in cabin interior products and the head of an airline perpetually at the cutting edge of IFEC
39 COMPASS POINTS THE WAY
A large crowd was on hand September 25 in Long Beach for first year of the International Flight Services Association Awards program to recognize food service and in flight products
40 MERCURY MAGIC
Another year under the direction of SIAL brings the venerable awards to a culmination at the Shangri-La Hotel in Abu Dhabi
NEWS AIRLINE NEWS
airBaltic reports high demand for AUH flights The Latvian airline airBaltic in cooperation with Etihad Airways launched direct service between Riga and Abu Dhabi on October 29. In advance of the service, passengers made more than 9,000 bookings. “Abu Dhabi is a major international hub with 25 million passengers,” said Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic in the announcement of the service. “It opens up endless possibilities of planning exotic trips from Riga, thanks to our cooperation with Etihad Airways. Most popular destinations booked at the airBaltic homepage have so far been Colombo, Seychelles, Phuket, Melbourne and Sydney.” airBaltic’s service to Abu Dhabi has been popular among travelers outside Latvia as well, as 30% of the bookings currently come from transfer passengers, mostly from Scandinavia and the Baltics. The inaugural flight between the two cities sold out quickly, said the airline. airBaltic also saw subsequent demand for the flights for the week of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which took place in Abu Dhabi in the last weekend of November. airBaltic operates the Riga – Abu Dhabi route four times weekly. Passengers will board a Bombardier CS300 aircraft for a flight that will last six hours and 15 minutes. Leading up to the Formula 1 Grand Prix race in November, airBaltic sold out its inaugural flight to Abu Dhabi
Qatar Airways launched its Pre-Select dining service this summer on routes to Europe, Americas and Australasia
Qatar adds more cities to pre-order dining Qatar Airways announced in October its Pre-Select Dining service would be available for First and Business Class passengers flying long-haul flights from Doha to Africa and Asia. When the program was launched in August, it originally included flights to Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Passengers traveling in First and Business Class are able to pre-select one main course from the à la carte on-board menu as far as 14 days in advance and up to 24 hours before takeoff. To pre-select a meal, passengers log into “My Trips” on the Qatar Airways website and choose from the seasonal menu available on their flight. Meals can also be ordered through the Qatar Airways mobile app. The Pre-Select Dining option complements the airline’s recently launched new Business Class experience, Qsuite. Premium customers can also be pampered with amenities from well-known brands such as BRIC’S, Nappa Dori, Monte Vibiano and The White Company.
Emirates announces inaugural flights for new 777 cabin Emirates announced in early November that the first two 777300ER aircraft fitted with new First Class cabins would operate on the airline’s flights from Dubai to Geneva and Brussels starting December 1. Emirates’ new First Class cabin features six private suites in a 1-1-1 layout, compared to the eight private suites in a 1-2-1 layout on its existing 777 fleet. In addition to the redesigned First Class product, Emirates’ new 777-300ERs will also have refreshed features in the Business and Economy Class. Before entering commercial service, the first Emirates aircraft to feature the new private suites was part of the Dubai Airshow from November 12 to 16 with a product reveal on the first day of the show. Emirates is the world’s largest operator of 777 aircraft including freighters, flying 165 routes to six continents from its hub in Dubai. 6 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
Operating from 62 locations around the world we’ve already set the standard for in-flight catering. Starting December 2017, we’re proud to be adding Dublin to our global catering network. Whether culinary delights or retail bites, we’re the on-board partner that you and your passengers can rely on. Inflight catering • Inflight retail • Food & beverage
NEWS COMPANY NEWS
FORMIA and Austrian Airlines offer new overnight amenity kit Austrian Airlines passengers subject to unforeseen overnight stays will now be supplied a premium kit developed by FORMIA. Each gender-focused kit features a two-tone pouch equipped with grooming essentials, laundry detergent, a Miradent dental care kit and Acca Kappa shower products scented with their signature White Moss fragrance. In addition, the male kit contains Acca Kappa shaving cream and a three-blade razor, while the female kit pampers the recipient with Acca Kappa body lotion and other useful items. “FORMIA understands the frustration of dealing with flight delays, and the inconvenience of an unexpected overnight stay,” says Roland Grohmann, CEO and Managing Partner of FORMIA in October’s release on the new kits. “We applaud Austrian Airlines for taking the extra step to reassure passengers that they care.”
deSter to open stateside plant deSter announced in early November plans to open a new production facility this spring in Lima, Ohio. “The development of a new production facility in Lima, Ohio, is the result of a strategic exercise spanning well over a year and an integral part of the company’s global expansion strategy aiming to produce closer to its core markets,” said a release from the gategroup company. “Initially the Lima location will primarily focus on the production of service items for the foodservice and travel industry.” In recent years, deSter has seen a growing interest from U.S.-based companies looking to provide their customers with safe and secure products, said Stef Van de Perre, Managing Director deSter. “In addition to strengthening our relationship with U.S. customers, there is also a very different side to the decision of developing a local plant in Ohio. We already have a global supply chain and mature production plants in Belgium and Thailand, which will provide a solid back-up during the start-up phase of the new Lima facility. However, as a company, we profoundly believe that good business should be good for people and gentle on the environment. Producing locally will therefore not only significantly contribute to reducing our carbon footprint, it will also provide a valuable economic injection within the Lima region as we expect to create seventy new jobs to start with,” Van de Perre added. The new Lima plant will open as soon as all production lines have been installed and the necessary quality tests have been completed successfully. The aim is to be fully operational by the end of March 2018.
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Necessary supplies for flight delays on Austrian Airlines, supplied by FORMIA
Gate Gourmet opens São Paulo unit Gate Gourmet officially started the operation October 24 at its newly built facility in São Paulo’s Guarulhos airport. The unit replaces one where the company has been operating since 1995 when it entered the Brazilian market. The 17,000 square-meter building has a 2,100 square-meter production area where around 720 employees can produce up to 36,000 daily meals for airline and retail customers. Major customers include Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Alitalia, American Airlines, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Iberia, Royal Air Maroc, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Qatar Airways and retail customers such as Starbucks. “The new facility will enable Gate Gourmet to back customer growth following the airport’s privatization and expansion through an on-airport facility equipped with stateof-the-art technology and with an optimal layout and process flows designed based on gategroup’s global best practices,” said a release from the company. “As leaders of the airline catering market in the Latin America region, we are fully committed to continue growing and expanding in order to meet our global customers’ needs and demands,” said gategroup’s Managing Director and President of Latin America, Edwin Garcia. “Our new facility at São Paulo’s Guarulhos airport allows us to keep pace with the market while ensuring the highest global standards and delivering operational excellence.”
NEWS CATERING
LSG Group secures Cairo presence In October, LSG Group extended its management, trademark and shareholder agreement for LSG Sky Chefs Catering Egypt SAE in Cairo for another seven years. The Cairo operation provides catering services for more than 30 flights per day. Co-shareholder Egypt Air is the main customer, but the unit serves seven other international airlines. Cairo was the first LSG Sky Chefs catering unit outside of Germany when it opened in 1978. When the caterer expanded its service into Egypt in the late 1970s, Lufthansa was a shareholder of EAS. In 1992, LSG Sky Chefs began operating the facility with Egyptian Aviation Services (EAS) under a management contract. In 2009, a joint venture agreement was established with Egypt Air Inflight Services (EAIFS) in which they acquired 70% of the shares in the business. LSG Sky Chefs and EAS became minority shareholders with 15% each. Since then, LSG Sky Chefs has been managing the entire operation. In recent years, operation in the Egyptian capital has been a challenge. After uprisings during the Arab Spring, many airlines ended service into the city and the unrest caused safety issues for employees coming to work, said Alfred Rigler, Head of Emerging Markets at LSG Group.
“During that time, our management team stayed in the unit and informed employees about the situation transparently,” he said. “The airlines who chose to continue flying to Cairo appreciated that they had a partner they could trust in and who was still available to provide high-quality catering services.” LSG Group’s unit has 420 employees in its 4,300-square-meter unit and produces approximately 12,000 meals per day. Rigler said LSG Group is looking at opportunities in the Middle East and is expanding its halal meal certifications in its worldwide network. “The Middle East is and will remain a strategically important market for out company. We are Alfred Rigler, investigating different Head of Emerging Markets at opportunities,” he added.
Eighteen innovative reasons why to choose our italian extra virgin olive oils
www.groupsoi.com 10 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
LSG Group
your own inflight experience www.bayart-innovations.com
NEWS CATERING
dnata plans December opening for Dublin unit The Dublin Airport Logistics Park, a few minutes from the airport terminal, is the home of a new dnata airline catering unit set to open in December. Construction was completed this fall at unit, which has 2,000 square meters of warehouse space and 420 square meters of offices. Current production capacity is approximately 4,000 meals per day, The Dublin Airport Logistics Park is the home for a new unit by dnata
12 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
with the possibility of expansion. dnata expects to employ more than 50 people once fully operational. Robin Padgett, Divisional Senior Vice President, dnata Catering, said the company is currently negotiating with several airlines and plans to announce a launch customer in late December. “We have strong, long-term relationships with regional and international carriers across Europe and understand their commitment to high-quality, authentic cuisine and a level of service which we think differentiates us from our competitors,”said Padgett. Gate Gourmet conducts their catering operation in Dublin, and Aer Lingus self-caters its aircraft. In addition, DHL provides catering logistics services. Padgett said Dublin’s position as one of the fastest-growing large airports in Europe offers an exciting opportunity for dnata. “We currently have an operation in Cork and operated a small bond store in Dublin in the past, so (we) understand the market in Ireland and see great opportunity for growth,” said Padgett.
BAKING COMPANY
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PEOPLE NEWS
PAX International names new Editor Rachel Debling joined PAX International as the magazine’s new Editor in October. Over the past 14 years, Debling has held a variety of positions in the publication and periodical industry, working as a columnist and circulation manager in Rachel her early career before moving onto Debling senior editorial roles at consumerfacing publications such as Oxygen and Inside Fitness magazines. Most recently, she has held the title of Production/Managing Editor at Rubicon Publishing, a Torontoarea company specializing in educational texts for elementary schools across North America, and led the editorial department for the newly launched D’FYNE magazine, a fitness publication for women in the 40 to 60 age demographic. She replaces Melissa Silva, who has been Editor of PAX International for the past five years and previously worked with three other titles in the Global Marketing Group. Melissa has accepted a new job in the Toronto area. “Melissa has been a loyal and valuable employee,” said PAX International Publisher Aijaz Khan. “We wish her luck in her new position and in the future.”
Diversey’s Martyn Jelley retires in November For decades, one of the cheerful faces that people could count on seeing at industry events in many corners of the world has been that of Martyn Jelley of Diversey. He eased into retirement November 1. Martyn Jelley Martyn began work with Diversey in 1979. He has managed the global business for airline catering and onboard, which included airlines, cruise and ferry, since 1994. The company manufactures and is a global leader in hygiene solutions, specialty cleaning chemicals and associated services. It has earned sole nominated supply positions with most of the major airline catering operators worldwide for more than 10 years. In his decades in the industry, Martyn has been an active Board Member and Vice President of the International Travel Catering Association. Representing Diversey, he has attended the International Flight Services Association annual event for more than 25 years. He also represented Diversey at Asia Pacific Onboard Travel (APOT) events in Asia. “I intend to stay close to my valued relationships, colleagues and friends within the onboard catering industry, [and] also as a part- time consultant,” he said. Beyond that, Jelley said he plans on doing some things he always wanted to do but never had the time. That includes time together his wife Trudy (also a regular at industry events), three grandchildren and the rest of his family. We wish Jelley luck in his retirement, but also suspect he won’t be a stranger.
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Panasonic names new VP Global Operations
Panasonic Avionics announced at APEX the appointment of Adri Ruiter as its new Vice President of Global Operations. With nearly 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, Ruiter will be responsible for key global operations activity, including operational strategy, program management, supplier management and global manufacturing, to ensure the highest level of consistent Adri Ruiter customer delivery. Ruiter previously held a number of positions at Zodiac Aerospace, including President and CEO of Zodiac Seats U.S., where he was instrumental to Project Fusion, a joint seat integration program between Zodiac (then Weber Aircraft LLC) and Panasonic. The design of the integrated seat ultimately led to the introduction of Panasonic Avionics’ Eco Monitor family, which was designed for the X Series IFE system. Ruiter’s most recent role at Zodiac was as Director of Restore Margins, where he led group operational excellence workshops at Zodiac Aerospace sites across North America.
LATAM exec joins gategroup Federico Germani has joined gategroup as Chief Commercial Officer, effective October 1. He will be based in Zurich and report to the CEO. The gategoup Chief Commercial Officer oversees the Commercial Management team as well as gategroup’s Federico global customers, ensuring commercial Germani alignment and coordination across the entire global network. The CCO remit will also incorporate gategroup’s Retail on Board Business and a new Customer Experience function. The new Customer Experience function area will focus on developing end-to-end experiences for customers and driving their commercialization together with the Account Management teams. Germani has more than 14 years of experience in the LATAM Group where he held the position of Corporate Senior Vice President – Services and Innovation. He was responsible for all services for LATAM customers globally, including call centers, airport operations above and below the wing, airport retail ticket sales, service on board, catering and duty free. “Federico brings to gategroup a unique understanding of the differential value that an airline can deliver for its passengers through catering and retail solutions – and of how much it can benefit from them,” said gategroup’s CEO Xavier Rossinyol.
INDUSTRY Q AND A
One of the Suites in Singapore Airlines First Class A380
Free of branding and hard edges, the Business Class Cabin captures a flowing look influenced by Singapore’s Gardens
The A380
Solution John Tighe
I
n early November, Singapore Airlines announced the new cabin product for its A380 fleet, including 14 of the big jets that are now in service. Many of the new cabin products were planned to enter service in December and front-to-back retrofit work will start early next year on the A380s currently in the airline’s fleet. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the A380. The launch made headlines around the industry then, as did the cutting-edge design of the aircraft and the new in flight products in November of this year. One of the key players in the new design was UK-based JPA Design. For this issue’s
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Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the A380. Now the airline is adding a fresh look to the cabin. PAX International talked with one of the lead designers for insight into the airline’s strategy
Industry Q and A, John Tighe, Design Director JPA Design, answered a few questions on the design company’s strategy and its partnership with Singapore Airlines. PAX International: What are a few elements that are distinctly Singaporean or distinctly to the region? John Tighe: The aesthetic of the new Singapore Airlines A380 seat outer shell was directly influenced by “the garden city,” which is Singapore. The flowing organic lines are inspired by natural forms and are similar to the bio-sensitive design language used in many modern buildings and areas of Singapore, such as “Gardens by the Bay.” This design creates a cabin, which feels very modern, but also is more natural – avoiding the hard-edged Teutonic, functional design style which is common in the industry. The other element, which is inherently Singaporean, is excellent service. We design the cabins with one overarching thought in mind – no matter how great the seats are, the real stars of the show are always the Singapore cabin crew and the five-star service they provide. An aircraft is a challenging environment to work within, so we do everything possible to make sure that our designs work equally well for the passengers and the cabin crew, to enable an elegant service into the Business Class seat space. This affects the considered location of features such as the cocktail tray, which is carefully positioned to help [with] both crew and passenger use. The ambiance of the cabin is also very
important – Singapore Airlines does not cover the cabin with overt branding, as this is not the way to create a premium space in which to enjoy a long journey, but there is always a unique ambiance when you step into the cabin, which is unmistakably SIA. PAX: What were the airline’s priorities when it came to JPA for the design four years ago? Tighe: After winning a long pitch process to find the best design partner, we worked closely with SIA to define the brief and create many solutions which were then thoroughly assessed. The main criteria were always to improve upon the very successful products SIA already has and to add some extra features which would be useful and memorable for the passenger. Hundreds of options were considered in order to make sure the seat was delivering the best possible passenger experience whilst also increasing the number of seats within the cabin. PAX: Are there any features in the cabin that are something that JPA has never seen or attempted before? Tighe: The seat is the first of a new generation of carbon monocoque seats. This means they have a single composite chassis, which is far more efficient. JPA Design has patented the monocoque construction, which demonstrates that we believe it is the future. PAX: How much of a consideration is weight in current cabin design? Is it the same priority than in the past?
INDUSTRY Q AND A
One of the Suites in Singapore Airlines First Class A380
Tighe: It’s always important, but it also depends on the airline, aircraft and the seat numbers. For example, saving a few hundred grams off a First Class seat where seat numbers are low is a far lower priority than saving weight off an Economy Class seat. Also, some airlines are very focused on minimizing weight at all cost and are prepared to make big compromises to achieve this. For others, the passenger experience is paramount, so they have to deliver excellence first and manage weight within this. JPA works with all kinds of airlines, so we have to be able to deliver a range of solutions to cover their differing needs.
PAX: Has JPA done any other projects with SIA? Tighe: We are lucky to have a long and illustrious history with Singapore Airlines, which began with JPA being asked to design the First Class lounge at Changi Airport back in 1998, following our work on the luxury train the Eastern and Oriental Express. In the subsequent years we have designed B747 First class suite; B777 First Class suite; A380, A340 and B777 Business Class seats (Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the A380); next-generation A350 and B777ER Business Class; and now this, the latest A380 Business class.
Singapore Airlines has been at the forefront of developing industry-leading and passenger-pleasing seating products for many years, winning numerous awards along the way. We are very proud of our near 20-year successful partnership. Long may that continue! PAX: Aside from the desire you mentioned for extra luggage space, did the airline have compromise on anything else? Tighe: No, we worked very hard with the seat vendor to make sure no other compromises were needed to achieve the amazing underseat storage space we were aiming for.
Panasonic adds personalization to KrisWorld A year after the company developed a companion app for its KrisWorld in flight entertainment system, Panasonic Avionics announced in November that it has added features that guide passengers through hours of audio, video, games and other features. The update will give passengers the ability to login at their seat; set playlists, bookmarks, language preference storage and wallpaper customization between flights; enjoy customized and personalized entertainment spotlights; find popular, trending and recommended content; and discover exclusive content based on frequent flier tier. Thus, the system name has been changed from KrisWorld to myKrisWorld. At industry events around the world, Panasonic has been touting its “Internet of Me” approach to supplying airlines with IFEC. The concept entails the things that people care about and brings them together to deliver personalized experiences. Passengers can use Singapore Airlines’ app or website to preview IFE content and set up a customized playlist. Once on board, they can either synchronize their mobile device or login at their seat to access their pre-selected content. Crowd-sourced data will offer up popular alternative titles. The system can ask passengers if they want to finish the movie they
started on the previous flights, and it can also make recommendations based on a passenger’s individual habits and what content is trending in flight at that moment in time. “By embracing the culture of mobile, we can increase the rate of evolution in the passenger experience, transforming what was once a passive entertainment system into another digital channel that airlines can leverage to better serve their customers,” said Hideo Nakano, Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics in the announcement of the improvements.
A personalized offering in the new myKrisWorld IFEC system
18 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
AIRCRAFT INTERIORS
Ordered There are 12 seats in flydubai’s Business Class
MAX
to the
This year’s Dubai Airshow saw billions of dollars changing hands, and a hometown airline is among the biggest headline grabbers
by RICK LUNDSTROM
M
any visitors among the throng at the Dubai Airshow walked away from this year’s event talking about the tremendous amount of money that was signed over to the world’s two major airline manufacturers by companies and carriers specializing in discount travel. November 15 ended with two major signings, totaling more than US$76 billion for more than 650 aircraft. The larger of the two came from private equity firm Indigo Partners that agreed to purchase 430 aircraft in the A320neo family for US$49.5 billion. Airbus Industrie described it at the largest single announcement for an aircraft purchase. In the future, most of the aircraft will make their way into the fleets of low-cost carriers as Indigo’s Managing Director, Bill Franke, has been in many ways credited for helping create the LCC business sector. “This underscores our optimistic view of the growth potential for our family of low-cost airlines, as well as our confidence in the A320neo family as a platform for that growth,” said Franke the day of the announcement. The second order was much closer to home, but no less momentous. LCC flydubai inked an order the same day for 225 737 MAX jets from Boeing which is billed as the largest single-aisle jet order – both by aircraft number and value from a Middle Eastern airline. The first six aircraft in the order are expected to arrive by the end of this year, and deliveries will continue through 2023. Though only in business for eight years, this is the third major aircraft order for flydubai. The airline is a longtime user of
20 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
the 737, and in Dubai unveiled the interior updates that it has kept under wraps for several months. The first MAX 8 series, bearing UAE registration A6-MAX, will be deployed on some of the longest routes in the airline’s system. Destinations planned for the aircraft are flights from DXB to Bangkok, Prague, Yekaterinburg in Russia and Zanzibar. The airline has also expanded its network to 97 destinations in 44 countries. flydubai worked with UK-based JPA Design on the interior touches that include the Sky Interior by Boeing. Also in the 737 MAX is the CL3710 Economy Class Seat from Recaro. The German company has been a longtime supplier for Up to seven of the new 737 MAX aircraft will be in service by the end of this year
The CL3710 seat from Recaro boasts a lightweight and slim design
flydubai, equipping 58 of its 737-800s with Recaro seats. For the aircraft manufacturer, the order from flydubai is yet another large customer for the workhorse 737, now in MAX design. The company’s MAX family of aircraft represents the fastest-selling brand in its history. Ninety-three customers currently have orders for nearly 4,000 aircraft. “It is tremendous to see flydubai’s MAX at the Dubai Airshow bearing the A6-MAX registration which is a very special accolade to our valued partnership with flydubai and to the MAX airplane,” said Marty Bentrott, Vice President, Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and Africa.
FOOD SERVICE
Uplifting Cuisine by RACHEL DEBLING on location for PAX International
LATAM has re-envisioned Economy Class dining with an array of gourmet meals and a modern, space-saving design that must be seen (and tasted) to be believed
W
hen it comes to air travel, there are a few key areas that consumers believe make or break their journey. For LATAM Airlines of Latin America, the culinary experience of their passengers tops this list – and since airline food is often subject to a subpar reputation, they decided to do something about it. After witnessing the launch of gategroup’s innovative meal delivery system, Absolutely ONE, at the 2016 World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo in Hamburg, LATAM’s interest in developing something similar for its customers was piqued. The one-bowl meal concept promised to deliver restaurant-quality meals with up to 50% more food per plate, without inconveniencing the cabin crew or imposing extra cost on their passengers. It almost sounded too good to be true, but LATAM planners felt the concept was worth exploring, and for an unlikely
This roast beef cold plate with quinoa-vegetable salad is one of the many gourmet meals cooked up for LATAM by gategroup’s chefs
audience: their long-haul Economy Class customers. So in July 2016, LATAM began working with gategroup to develop a whole new onboard dining experience for its passengers. The result was impressive (and efficient, space-wise) to say the least. “When we asked our clients, [they reported] the food is an essential part of how they value their experience onboard, especially on long-haul flights,” explains Claudia Sender, Senior Vice-President Clients, LATAM Airlines Group. Since Economy Class passengers may feel overlooked during amenity and catering upgrades, they believed it was the perfect place to start. As Sender notes, “We wanted the customer to be at the center of all our decisions.” Economy Class passengers on flights of more than seven hours in duration will be able to select one of three gourmet lunch or dinner options that would make even the most fervent foodie’s mouth water with
anticipation. The meals are inspired by international and local flavors and every flight will have an option that falls under each of the following categories: a warm protein-based dish, a hearty vegetarian selection and a cold, lighter meal with another variety of protein center stage. For those traveling on a redeye flight, passengers on long-haul trips spanning the early morning hours will have two breakfast options available, one sweet and another savory. The new dining concept was revealed with great fanfare at a November 7 press event held on LATAM’s maintenance base just outside of Santiago, Chile. Agustín Buenaño, Director of Onboard Service, LATAM Airlines Group, and Anne De Hauw, gategroup’s Vice President Customer Experience, took members of the international press on a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation of their inflight dining innovation on a parked 787-9 DreamThe 787-9 Dreamliner upon which the press experienced the new concept firsthand
Agustín Buenaño, LATAM’s Director of Onboard Service, presents a few of the 300 menu options concocted for the dining concept
A side-by-side comparison of the Absolutely ONE bowl and traditional in flight meals
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FOOD SERVICE LATAM’s launch event gave the international press a peek at how these new meals would be served on board and, later in the dining area (shown here), how they would taste
liner (“It’s one of our largest airplanes,” said Buenaño at the event, “[and] we thought that since we are speaking about in flight service, the best way to do it would be to do it inside of the cabin.”) before ushering them into a beautifully decorated pop-up dining hall on the tarmac to sample the meals for themselves. Though the décor in the events’ dining area had all of the pomp and circumstance befitting of such an occasion, the meals were delivered to the events’ guests in the same specially designed bowls and trays in which LATAM’s passengers would enjoy their selections during their flight. Guests at the Santiago event were presented with a menu of six dining options, along with dessert selections sourced from many of LATAM’s destinations, such as Peru, Argentina, Miami, Spain and, of course, Chile. The dinner choices included cheese ravioli with roasted tomato, basil and parmesan sauce; grilled marinated salmon with Andean grain risotto, cherry tomatoes and sautéed asparagus; a roast chicken cold plate with quinoa bites, fava beans and mixed greens with yogurt-sesame dressing; spinach-ricotta cannelloni with creamy saffron sauce and roasted red 22 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
pepper coulis; slow-cooked beef brisket, corn pudding with corneal, sautéed asparagus and cherry tomatoes; and a smoked salmon cold plate with a tricolor quinoa salad with vegetables, mixed greens and tartar dressing. Members of the attending press could be seen swapping bites with fellow reporters, with many traded morsels accompanied by sounds of satisfaction, and those who had dietary restrictions were offered gluten-free and allergy-friendly options with the same high-quality presentation and flavor as the standard menu fare. But the improved dining experience does not just benefit passengers in transit. As De Hauw explained, the needs of the airline and cabin crew were also addressed as LATAM and gategroup worked together over the course of 16 months, 14 inflight analyses and more than 600 tested meals. “This needed to be a win-win-win: for the airline, for the staff and for the guests,” De Hauw noted over dinner. On the one hand, the cabin crew requires the process to run smoothly. This has been accomplished via a system that has two cycles of meals being heated per flight, with the first batch being served while the other finishes
heating. On the other hand, the price tag is obviously a concern to any airline; luckily, gategroup was able to work with LATAM to ensure that this concept did not exceed the total cost of the previous tray service. (Recycled C-PET bowls, the need for fewer trolleys and a lower overall weight to reduce fuel consumption were three factors that helped balance the books.) “What we did is reduce the ‘nice-tohaves’ that are included in our current service and enhance all of the essentials, putting [together] a better quality culinary experience with 50% more food on the plate and [providing] more of a restaurantstyle dining experience that, generally speaking, Economy passengers are not accustomed to,” Buenaño said during the presentation. “It’s an experience that already our passengers are loving because they find it not only a better culinary experience but also more comfortable.” In the end, the project was deemed a success on all sides – in fact, in flight surveys concluded that the new menu doubled customer satisfaction. Though the options have already been available on long-haul flights to and from Chile (with destinations to the United States, Oceania and Europe) since October, LATAM will expand the offering to all seven-hour-plus international flights before 2017 comes to a close. Both LATAM and gategroup are anticipating that this departure from convention will cause ripples throughout the industry. As De Hauw explained in a November 7 press release: “We truly believe this innovative new dining concept is going to transform the way that passengers experience in-flight catering. Being able to collaborate with LATAM, putting the passenger at the center of the development process, has been an incredible experience.”
LATAM’s Tomás Montero, Head of Onboard Catering, and David Harry, External Communications Manager, with Anne De Hauw, gategroup’s Vice President Customer Experience
Delicious egg specialities ...
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EVENT COVERAGE
Emirates’
Canada
Connection Now starting its 11th year of service, the airline has increased capacity by adding the A380 three times per week and fostering codesharing agreements, increasing its profile in the country by RICK LUNDSTROM
M
embers of the Toronto media had the chance in mid-October to experience the way one of the world’s premier airlines marks a special occasion and the maturation of one of its important routes in North America. During an evening-long event, visitors browsed through cabin mock-ups, viewed films of the A380 in a private theater equipped with First Class seating and sampled amenities, and food and beverage selections served by two doting flight attendants. The evening came to a close with selections from Emirates’ First Class dessert menu. The Emirates event in Toronto occurred as the airline was noting two important milestones. The end of October marked the 10th anniversary of Emirates’ service to the largest city in Canada. The airline started with a 777 serving the city in 2007. In June of 2009, Emirates began A380 service to Lester Pearson International Airport. Emirates serves the city with three weekly flights from Dubai, which take approximately 13 hours each way. Scheduled for November is the delivery of the airline’s 100th A380, making it by far the largest operator of the aircraft in the world. Don McWilliam, Country Manager for Canada at Emirates, said that in the years to come the airline has 44 additional A380s scheduled for delivery, taking up much of the Airbus production schedule of the aircraft. Throughout the past 10 years, Emirates has been operating service into Toronto
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under the same bilateral air transport agreement negotiated in 1999 between Canada and the United Arab Emirates. That agreement limits the service between the two countries to three flights per week. With Emirates operating daily service to more than 90% of its 157 destinations around the world, the airline claims that Canada’s largest city is among its least served destinations. Still, there is enough passenger demand for Emirates to upgrade the hardware flying into the city by adding the A380, which increases the capacity of the route by 40%. As passenger traffic has increased, so too has trade between the two countries.
According to the latest trade statistics in a fact sheet from Emirates, the UAE has been Canada’s largest export market in the Middle East North overtothe last Theand A380 flying Africa from Dubai Toronto 14 private suites in First Class 12 years and ishas the 16th largest globally. In 2016, bilateral trade between Canada and the UAE exceeded US$1.9 billion, which is a 64% increase since the two countries were first connected by Emirates direct air services in 2007. Emirates has also sunk 10 years of roots into Canadian soil and has begun hiring nationals for its service. Passengers on flights to and from Canada enjoy the hospitality of a multi-national cabin crew, of which more than 360
EVENT COVERAGE are Canadian. The airline has also hired more than 180 Canadian pilots. Emirates in total has nearly 730 Canadian nationals working in various positions around its global operations. Since the airline began serving Toronto, more than 1.2 million passengers have flown to and from the city to Dubai. In 2016 alone, more than 140,000 passengers made the trip, and Emirates estimates the load factor on the route was 96% last year and has maintained 90% capacity since it was launched. Emirates also operates daily 777-300ER service from Dubai to Seattle, providing Canadians the closest access to theAWARD UAE from the West Coast of North America. To further WINNING enhance its service, Emirates has established codeshare WINE partnerships with WestJet and Alaska Airlines to enable it in 2013 to connect travelers from across its global network to more Canadian cities. The majority of their Canadian passengers leaving Toronto are traveling to Dubai, the Middle East and the South Asia subcontinent, with leisure traffic to the Maldives and Mauritius. Though the airline only operates three weekly flights to Toronto, travelers have a chance to sample the flagship of the airline’s service. With 100 aircraft in its fleet, Emirates has had years to hone the passenger experience on the A380. At the event were some of the trappings and details that have made the Emirates A380 experience unique in commercial aviation. The three-class A380 on the Toronto route offers a total of 515 seats, with 14 private suites in First Class, 76 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 425 seats in Economy Class.
Dining on the big jet
In Toronto, Emirates’ uses CLS Catering Services Ltd., the joint venture between Cathay Pacific Catering Services and LSG Sky Chefs. CLS Catering has been operating units in both Toronto and Vancouver for more than 20 years. The caterer uses menus that are designed and developed at Emirates Flight Catering in Dubai and are now changed monthly to ensure the airline uses food that is in season. Planning takes place with the help of the regional catering manager and a concept development team that visits the airline’s catering stations every month. Managers complete taste reports and photograph completed dishes to give catering stations and cabin crew around the world visual references as to how the appetizers, meals and desserts should look. In First Class, passengers on an Emirates flight can order an à la carte meal selection that can be delivered at any time during the flight. Lunches and dinners in Business Class are delivered in five courses. Economy Class service includes a starter and choice of two main courses along with dessert, cheese, biscuits and chocolates. The Toronto route is but a small part of a huge and growing catering network for Emirates. With a catering investment of US$1 billion per year, Emirates runs a round-the-clock kitchen with 1,200 chefs based in Dubai working with an archive of 12,450 recipes. The operation caters 590 flights per day in Dubai with a goal of providing authentic local cuisines. The airline also works closely with 25 catering partners around the world to provide the same food service for its Dubaibound flights.
Dan Esc. Pagina Intera.indd 1
www.montevibiano.it tel : + 39 0758783001 e-mail : info@montevibiano.it
21-01-2013 21:30:35 www.pax-intl.com | PAX INTERNATIONAL | 25
AIRLINES Pictured from left: Hala Al Gergawi, Managing Editor of Zahrat Al Khaleej, Fatma Al Mudhareb, Rawdha Al Shafar, Bouthaina Al Marri and Linda Celestino, Etihad Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery
High-flying designs A young Emirati designer has won a competition held by Etihad Airways to create onboard loungewear by MARY JANE PITTILLA
I
n October, United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways launched a pioneering competition to engage four young Emirati fashion designers to create new onboard loungewear. With local designers on the rise, Etihad chose to cultivate homegrown talent and artists in a way that no other airline had done before. The competition was run in conjunction with Zahrat Al Khaleej, the Arab world’s top lifestyle magazine. Tapping their expertise and knowledge of the local fashion scene, the four designers were put forward for the project by the team at Zahrat Al Khaleej based on their experience and talent in designing casual wear/loungewear, which is also a focus of their current collections. The designers
were Rawdha Al Shafar (A Friend of Mine by Xpoze), Manaal Al Hammadi (Manaal Al Hammadi), Asma Al Matrooshi (Epiphany) and Aisha Al Marri (1981 Boutique). Before the winner was announced, Linda Celestino, Etihad Airways Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, explained the reasoning behind this ground-breaking initiative. “As the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and with our sponsorship of 17 international Fashion Weeks, engaging local designers and audiences is the logical step for us, and this is the perfect platform to do so. This also gives Etihad Airways an opportunity to showcase the talent that exists in the region. I cannot wait to see what these incredible designers have in store for us.”
Loungewear by A Friend of Mine by Xpose will be offered in Etihad Airways’ First Class cabins and in The Residence on board the A380
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The four UAE-based designers kicked off the competition through a challenging set of criteria: the design themes had to involve strong Emirati and UAE influences, work with traditional patterns and accents, and be contemporary and trendy. “The brief that we gave them is for a loungewear design concept that is comfortable, stylish, gender-neutral and can be worn anywhere. We chose the term loungewear as we see this clothing as more than just a pajama; it is something that can be worn to relax, lounge and sleep. The design must also have details inspired by the UAE and the Emirati design philosophy,” noted Celestino. “We were looking for design concepts that not only meet the elements we mentioned in our brief, but also showcase the distinct identity of the designer and that of Etihad Airways. More importantly, the winning design concept had to fit our guest profile, their preferences and needs.” The four designers worked over a oneweek period for a chance to win the grand prize of having their design offered in Etihad’s First Class cabins and in The Residence onboard the A380, as well as another prize of two Business Class tickets to one of the 17 Etihad-sponsored Fashion Weeks. Over the three-day voting period from October 18-20, nearly 71,000 votes were submitted over Zahrat Al Khaleej’s Snapchat Discover channel and website. The two finalists, Rawdha Al Shafar (A Friend of Mine by Xpoze) and Aisha Al Marri
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AIRLINES (1981 Boutique), were chosen to develop a prototype design within a week for the final judging round. Rawdha Al Shafar from A Friend of Mine by Xpose won the final design, which was chosen based on comfort, style and wearability post-flight. The winning design concept was announced on November 1 at an award ceremony at the Etihad Training Academy, where both finalists showcased their work in a runway show. “We announced the winner on both Etihad Airways’ and Zahrat Al Khaleej’s social media channels on November 1, and a press release was also sent out the following day,” said Celestino. A delighted Rawdha Al Shafar said of the competition: “I am so honored to have won this prestigious competition. The team at Zahrat Al Khaleej and Etihad Airways have been incredibly supportive. The other designers have certainly been tough opponents as they all showed much skill and talent. “This was an extremely challenging competition – to turn around a design and a prototype in just a couple of weeks was testing but certainly rewarding. I can’t wait to see my design onboard next year.” The team from A Friend of Mine by Xpose will work closely with the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s Guest Experience and Delivery and Product and Brand teams to monitor the production of the loungewear over the next few months before being introduced onboard by the first quarter of next year. Announcing the winner, Celestino said: “This is the first time an airline has done something such as this. I absolutely loved working with these incredibly talented young Emirati women, who showed such passion and determination. This gives Etihad Airways an opportunity to showcase the talent that exists in the region. It was certainly a tough choice, but A Friend of Mine deserves the win.” It is not the first time Etihad has reached out to the local community on a new product development. In 2014, the airline partnered with Sougha, a social enterprise initiative launched by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, which aims to preserve Emirati traditions and promote local artisans for its amenity kit program across all cabins. The amenity kits featured patterns of Sadou, a colorful, intricate and centuries-old Abu Dhabi weaving craft traditionally used on blankets, cushions and Bedouin tents.
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Sketches of the winning design by A Friend of Mine by Xpose, designed by Rawdha Al Shafar
The winning design by A Friend of Mine by Xpose features strong Emirati and UAE influences
Etihad: The world’s fashionable airline Etihad sponsors a number of fashion weeks across the world, spanning New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week – Men & Women, Milan Fashion Week – Men & Women, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and Lakme Fashion Weeks in Mumbai, India. Linda Celestino, Etihad Airways Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, said she believes there is a great synergy between the airline and fashion industries. “Very few industries travel as much as the fashion industry does, spending tens of millions of dollars annually. Etihad Airways is an ideal brand fit for this jet-set industry that is ambitious, innovative and remarkable – characteristics that are exemplified by Etihad’s world-renowned service and hospitality offering.” As well as boosting its image among the fashion community, Etihad’s link-up with fashion is set to benefit UAE’s flag carrier in terms of generating new business. “We are now seen as ‘Fashion’s Airline,’ fully supporting and aligned with the industry,” she said. “We also launched Runway to Runway at New York Fashion Week in February this year. The program is a new member club offering benefits tailored to the needs of the international fashion community.”
GALILEO WATERMARK’S SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
A source for
sustainability Galileo Watermark has developed a new range of cosmetic products with a hint of the sea in the packaging and an eye toward helping clean the world’s oceans by RICK LUNDSTROM
Galileo Watermark will use recycled PET products to make the bottles for OCN cosmetics
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n the future, when an airline passenger reaches into the bottom of an onboard amenity kit for packaged refreshment product, they could find a small container made of material that has completed a long and complicated journey. Picked from the shallows and beaches of the world’s oceans, this plastic packaging was originally gathered from a sandy shore, washed, treated and granulated into flakes, washed again and pelletized before taking a new shape and with a label that says “OCN.” It will then be part of the newest line of cosmetics packaging from Galileo Watermark. OCN is the new Galileo Watermark brand of cosmetics offered as an alternative to products sold in standard recycled or virgin plastic packaging. It is taken from a small segment of the billions of metric tons of disposable products that are now littering the world’s oceans – up to 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile of water, according to National Geographic. The waste is unsightly and unnecessary, and it poses real threats to fish, turtles, birds and other sea life. Not only is the problem one of current plastic waste but also of industries that continue to make more of the product year after year. Galileo Watermark sites information from the same National Geographic, which states that every year approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans. “The aviation industry is a significant contributor to plastic waste, and our airline partners are working towards more
sustainable options across all aspects of our sourcing requirements,” says Kenny Harmel, Head of Aviation at Galileo Watermark. “We want to support this drive as much as possible by offering innovative solutions to both waste reduction and sustainable material usage.” Two types of plastic are the main culprits but also offer the best possibility for reuse: HDPE plastic found in milk bottles and PET plastic commonly used in soda bottles. Galileo Watermark will be using the former (which is the more common waste found in the oceans) for the OCN tube cosmetic products, while the recycled PET products will be used to make new bottles. Though the company is committed to an OCN line that is made from 100% plastic
recycled from the ocean, its initial offering will contain approximately 30%. Galileo Watermark is working with partners to gather products from beaches in the Europe, Australia and the Americas with intentions for more regions later. The plastic is collected from various locations along with other non-plastic items such as “ghost nets” which are fishing nets that have been left or lost in the ocean by fishermen. From there, the plastic is transported to a centralized sorting facility where is it divided by material. After the initial processing, the enduse pellets will be shipped to Galileo Watermark factories, melted down and molded into a new tube or bottle that will find its way into an airline amenity kit or aircraft lavatory.
Kenny Harmel, Head of Aviation at Galileo Watermark
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GALILEO WATERMARK’S SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING “Our skincare range has been developed specifically with the travel industry in mind, and we have paid close attention to the ingredients within the formulations,” said Harmel. Such an effort needs partners and a complicated logistics chain. Galileo Watermark works with local authorities and organizations around the world to obtain the raw material that will form the OCN packaging and is currently establishing partnerships that will help with the process. The company’s additional hope, said Harmel, is to give the OCN packaging not one life but several. “Our supply chain is absolutely set up for this, and the one part that it would replace would be the collection,” he said. “Here it would be refined and reduced in much
the same way it would be from the beach; however, it would be repelletized and mixed with other recycled plastic to be reused.” The other task ahead is finding customers from a group of airlines that count pennies and half pennies for each individual amenity item. Making a product in this fashion is not the least expensive process. Raw material transportation and logistics take up a significant part of the cost of production. Plastic is transported from the beaches to Galileo Watermark facilities and then from one facility to another. But as Galileo Watermark continues to develop the brand and its processes, the company plans to better streamline and further establish an effort that extends to Asia and Australasia, making it easier to source and develop products and deliver
them closer to airline customers at nearto-cost-neutral prices. For potential airline customers that feel the scrutiny by consumers and the public for their environmental practices, OCN products in their amenity bags and lavatories would be a visible sign of efforts to address environmental concerns. After the inevitable discussion of cost, Harmel said airlines are excited about the initiative. He sees a strong desire among the airlines to reduce the amount of plastic waste, though cost is always a main concern. “The prospect of delivering something with negligible impact on cost but a significant impact on the environment and their effect on it is extremely powerful and is acknowledged by each of our partners,” he said.
Recycled plastic from the ocean in the US and UK is used in the packaging for OCN
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SUSTAINABILITY
Waste
no more Dozens of in flight products are being evaluated for reuse in a program that teams LSG Sky Chefs, Air New Zealand and the government Galley inserts are inspected at the LSG Sky Chefs unit in Auckland
F
or decades, Air New Zealand has been a pioneer in sustainable practices and building its brand around the free, outdoorsy spirit of the Kiwis and the scenic islands they inhabit. Amenity kits have been stocked with natural products. Interiors have been lush and natural-feeling spaces and outdoor imagery is teamed with a unique style that has been appealing and successful. All the efforts cannot change the fact that commercial air travel is an energyintensive enterprise that uses vast amounts of fuel and requires cabin service products that have been a challenge, at best, to dispose and recycle. All that is being tackled anew in a program by the airline called Project Green where Air New Zealand will seek to divert 150 tons of and carefully evaluate 40 inflight products that were previously sent to landfills to be reclassified so they can be used on future flights. Such a tricky and mammoth task cannot be completed without partners. Air New Zealand is working with LSG Sky Chefs, its caterer out Auckland and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) with the job of tackling inflight waste on the airline’s international services arriving in Auckland. Currently, the partners are focusing on sealed beverages and unopened snacks, but plan on expanding the reach in the months ahead. In the first month of the fall launch of the program there has been some success. Across Air New Zealand’s international fleet, 13 tons of waste, including 260,000 plastic cups, 480 kilograms of sugar packets and 3.5 tons of water, were diverted. The new practice starts when the international flight is off-loaded. Trolleys arrive at the LSG Sky Chefs catering unit. There,
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by RICK LUNDSTROM
the dock personnel and cart strippers separate the carts. Unopened products are placed in bins and trolleys in a designated recycling area. At the end of a shift, the items are weighed and counted and delivered to the equipment make up, bonded and dry stores or kitchen and assembly stations at the unit. LSG Sky Chefs operates a 11,600-square -meter building with 700 employees and produces approximately 25,000 meals per day. In addition to Air New Zealand, the unit caters seven other airlines and produces 9,000 sandwiches or wraps for retail outlets in New Zealand. The caterer has the responsibility of selecting products that are fit for recycling. “LSG also has to ensure that hygiene, quality and MPI rules are complied with,” Pieter Harting, LSG Sky Chefs’ General
Manager New Zealand tells PAX International. “MPI rules are solely based on the fact if the potential recycled product could harm New Zealand’s environment if released.” LSG Sky Chefs is also working with cabin crew, helping them identify with products can be recycled, and what is the best and easiest way. Harting said crew are given colored bags to separate the products for non-recyclable food products. “We have spent considerable time auditing our in flight waste to gain a better understanding of how we can improve our handling processes,” said Christopher Luxon, Air New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer. “By collaborating with LSG Sky Chefs and MPI, we have been able to make significant gains – we are incredibly encouraged by the early data we’re seeing.”
Cups and lids are among the top five items reclaimed for further use in Air New Zealand cabins
Top 10 Products Recycled on Air New Zealand 1. Sugar Sachets 2. Water (400 milliliters) 3. Water (1.5 liters) 4. Disposable Towels 5. Paper Cups Source: LSG Sky Chefs
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Paper Cup Lids Plastic Cups Rubbish Bags Decaffeinated Coffee Economy Class Tea
IFEC Among the features in the CabinConnect™ system by Rockwell Collins is the company’s Airshow moving map display
The cabin connection
A
mong the flurry of announcements that came from this year’s Dubai Airshow was a new contract for installation of a combination of cockpit avionics and cabin connectivity that will fill out one airline’s needs from nose to tail for an important aircraft order. It also signals the further advancement of goals for a longtime player in the industry that has betted big on the needs of airlines for a one-stop shop for connectivity. At the start of the mid-November Airshow in the desert, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) announced an agreement with Rockwell Collins to provide its global high-speed broadband inflight connectivity, overhead in flight entertainment and suite of advanced avionics for 10 737 MAX aircraft that will be delivered to the carrier by the end of this year. “The new connectivity service will enable AZAL passengers to surf the internet, use various instant messenger applications [and] social networks, listen to audio and check emails via personal computers, tablets and smartphones,” said Mike DiGeorge, Vice President, Commercial Aviation and Network Services for Rockwell Collins in the November 12 announcement. “And for the flight deck, the high-speed connec-
Since this year’s APEX event in Long Beach, Rockwell Collins has new customers for its frontto-back connectivity systems by RICK LUNDSTROM
tivity will open up possibilities for pilots to access information such as synoptic weather through a secure server router to supplement their flight operations.” The order comes on the heels of the announcement in September at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) Conference and Expo that the CabinConnect™ connectivity system is part of a line fit order of 100 737 MAX aircraft for an at-the-time unnamed Asian carrier. Passengers will have the opportunity to stream connectivity from the Global Express satellite system from Inmarsat, a partner with Rockwell Collins. Global Express will also be the satellite provider of choice for Azerbaijan Airlines.
Azerbaijan Airlines is based in Baku, adjacent to Heydar Aliyev International Airport. The carrier operates to 40 destinations in 25 countries across Asia, the CIS, Europe and the United States. In 2016, Azerbaijan Airlines carried more than 2 million passengers. The announcements in Long Beach and Dubai underscore business goals that have been priorities for the Iowabased company. Rockwell Collins completed the acquisition of seating and cabin service products provider B/E Aerospace in the spring, and purchased SATCOM company ARINC several years ago, as well as some smaller players along the way. Rockwell Collins began to transition into a company that provides
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IFEC products from the cockpit to the back of the cabin with the new capabilities. It also took another step toward a future where entertainment and connectivity would be more and more in the hands of the passenger at boarding. In an afternoon session with reporters this spring at a tour of the Rockwell Collins Seating plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Ortberg discussed strategy for the new seating acquisition and its fit within the company and the development of aircraft that in the future will be connected digitally from nose to tail. “We see great synergies, particularly as we move to a digitally connected airplane, for us to leverage the collective strengths of the organization,” he said at the gathering, attended by PAX International. “It is going to bring us closer to the flying passenger as opposed to just the pilot.” The company’s seating line will remain open to integration with other IFE industry hardware suppliers. Ortberg said Rockwell Collins sees a future where in flight entertainment, especially
A suite of cockpit solutions teams Rockwell Collins with Inmarsat for safety and weather tracking
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in single-aisle and Economy Class, will be streamed through connectivity providers to personal electronic devices. “More and more, airlines are going to move to ‘bring your own device’ with no embedded wired IFE device,” Ortberg said. “IFE is going to be delivered by wireless networks and streaming that information, and that is being done in many airlines today. That is where we believe the market is going.” The trend to BYOD in the back cabin is continuing, and Rockwell Collins intends to supply that need through CabinConnect™, a platform of customizable options that that can include streaming content, voice and text services, in flight information through moving maps and live news and sports. Not only is CabinConnect™ being billed as a solution for passenger entertainment, Rockwell Collins is opening up the possibilities for revenue generation. With the platform, airlines can offer special services and promotions and upload duty-free shopping platforms that carry with them the back-office capability of real-time card authentication at the point of purchase.
Teaming with Global Express
Rockwell Collins expanded its capabilities to supply connectivity front to back with the September announcement of its strategic agreement with Inmarsat for the global distribution of its next-generation SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) flight deck connectivity solution. “This new connection between the flight deck, aircraft systems and the ground provides a range of benefits to airlines, including enhanced situational awareness across their entire operation, more informed real-time decision making, enhanced real-time performance monitoring, high-resolution weather updates and other data critical to modernizing the safety and efficiency of airline and air traffic control (ATC) flight operations,” said a September release from Rockwell Collins. “The advent of the next-generation ‘connected cockpit’ brings with it a new set of requirements in terms of service reliability, availability and security for aviation communications,” said Michael DiGeorge.
EVENT COVERAGE
What to expect at
WTCE 2018
Improved technology, new exhibitors and tasty inspirations will again beckon the industry to Passenger Experience Week by RACHEL DEBLING
Organizers from Reed Exhibitions are busy building a bigger and better WTCE
T
he World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE®) will welcome more than 3,700 onboard industry professionals from across the globe April 10-12 to Hamburg. And though attendees can still expect to be awed by the latest innovations in the travel catering, travel retail and passenger comfort industries, a few key changes make this the most exciting WTCE event yet. 2018’s expo will mark the largest floor space in WTCE history, spanning four halls and featuring the booths of more than 350 suppliers (including confirmed companies such as LSG Group, En Route International, dnata and Aniak Beauty). New networking facilities will also make the 2018 edition easier than ever for attendees to meet with business contacts and make the most of what the free-toattend event offers. VIP guests are invited to take advantage of the WTCE Business Meeting Hub where they can schedule meetings with industry contacts. Space at the hub can be booked prior to the show, or at the expo. In between meetings and exploring the halls, VIP guests can also unwind away from the busy expo floor in the exclusive VIP Buyers Lounge, stocked with complimentary beverages and meals for their enjoyment. Those attending WTCE will also be able to make their expo trip more interactive than ever. The My Event app, which will go live in the near future, will make it possible for attendees to plan and personalize their show experience from their mobile device or desktop.
36 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
The New Exhibitor Villages, a popular stop on many attendees’ must-see lists, is now four zones large, giving an expanded area for new exhibitors like Domenico Manca Spa, nibnibs, BitesWeLove, Bridgehead Foods and Pere Ventura Family Wine Estates to show off their wares. In addition, products that have been launched within the past year will have their moment to shine at the What’s New Onboard showcase. Returning for its second year, Focus on World Travel Retail will reveal products available for in flight purchase from an exciting list of exhibitors, such as Laduree, Butlers Chocolates, Caffe di Artisan and St. Patrick’s. The Gebr. Heinemann networking bar will provide visitors and exhibitors alike with a glimpse into the future of onboard retail with a soon-to-be-announced schedule of networking sessions. For those looking for inspiration via live chef demonstrations, exciting presentations and more, the Taste of Travel Theatre is back at WTCE 2018, and access is available to attendees free of charge. The crowds gathered at dnata’s WTCE booth in 2017.
Passenger Experience Week
Beginning April 9, four events will kick-off what is collectively known as Passenger Experience Week – the Passenger Experience Conference, WTCE, Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) and new to 2018, Passenger Technology Solutions, an event that will put the latest passenger experience technologies on display and give airlines, rail and cruise operators an opportunity to discover up-and-coming technology suppliers and their innovations. The Passenger Experience Conference occurs on April 9 with a line-up of industry experts eager to share their secrets. After the conference closes, likeminded professionals can rub elbows at the popular Industry Networking Party. Following the festivities, on April 10 the WTCE, AIX and Passenger Technology Solutions will open; a free networking opportunity, the Heineken-sponsored WTCE 2018 Reception, will be held opening day from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, events and how to register, visit the WTCE website www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com.
EVENT COVERAGE
Saluting
Emirates CEO Sir Tim Clark (right) is honored with the CEO Lifetime Achievement Award by APEX CEO Joe Leader
people and
machines This year’s awards evening of the Airline Passenger Experience Association honored notable advancements in cabin interior products and the head of an airline perpetually at the cutting edge of IFEC
T
he efforts of airlines, suppliers and individuals were part of a comprehensive evening of awards and recognition September 25 in Long Beach, California where the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) showed off its innovation and the career-long contributions of its members and industry figures. Brian Kelly, CEO and Founder of The Points Guy, served as Host for the evening. Also contributing to the evening was the results of input from airline passengers around the world as the group’s Passenger Choice Awards were given out to four airlines picked for strengths through a partnership between APEX and Triplt® from Concur®, a travel-organizing app that gathered anonymous feedback from more than half-a-million flights from a period between October 2016 and July 2017. Five categories were evaluated by passengers using a five-star scale. Also honored were eight recipients of the 2017 APEX Awards. A panel of media judges evaluated entries over the fall and picked winners in cabin innovation from airlines and their suppliers. “APEX’s members are the world’s leading airlines, suppliers and related companies, and the APEX Awards are the industry’s way of tipping their hat and recognizing the newest and most innovative approaches to business,” said Dominic Green, chair of the APEX Awards Committee. The other award from the evening was the CEO Lifetime Achievement Award that this year went to Sir Tim Clark of 38 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
Emirates. Sir Tim has been in the airline industry since 1972, joining Emirates in 1985 on the ground floor of the airline’s famous ascendency. In 1992, Emirates became the first airline to install in-seat video in all classes of service. A year later, passengers were making inflight telephone calls in every class. Emirates later kicked off its massive growth by placing an order
for the first of its A380 and 777 deliveries on a $15 billion order. “As President of Emirates, Sir Tim Clark has helped to usher in a new golden age of air travel at the dawn of the 21st Century, changing the global airline industry by raising the passenger experience bar to an entirely new level,” said Joe Leader, CEO of APEX. “
The Following are Winners of the Passenger Choice Awards Best Seat Comfort
Virgin America
Best Cabin Service
Qatar Airways
Best Food and Beverage
Qatar Airways
Best Entertainment
Emirates
Best Wi-Fi
JetBlue
The Following are Winners of the 2017 APEX Awards Best Cabin Innovation
ReTrolley from Airbus
Best Connectivity Innovation
European Aviation Network by Deutsch Telkom AG and Inmarsat Aviation
Best Inflight Entertainment Innovation
LEVEL Portal from IAG
Best Original Audio
Air New Zealand
Best Original Video
Emirates
Best Passenger Comfort Innovation
Airspace Single Aisle Interior by Airbus
Best Personalization Innovation
SITAONAIR e-commerce for Emirates
Best Video Curation
Virgin Australia
EVENT COVERAGE
Compass points the way A large crowd was on hand September 25 in Long Beach for the first year of the International Flight Services Association Awards program recognizing food service and in flight products
RMT Global Partners won this year’s Compass Award for Best Catering/Food Service/ Galley Equipment for the Tidy Kit Produced for Delta Air Lines. Shown here, left to right is Roland Standaert, Account Executive – Europe and Middle East; Judy Wilkes, Vice President of Operations; Peter Diehl, Vice President of Sales and Marketing; Mark Spiwack, Senior National Account Executive at Coca-Cola and one of the Compass Awards Judges; and Paul Norman from Harvey Alpert Company
This year, Buzz received two awards, one for its Cole Haan products for American Airlines as Best Onboard Amenity. Buzz was also recognized with the Supplier of the Year award, celebrating some of the team’s key airline products launched over the last 12 months. Shown here, left to right, Kara Rich, Senior Director, Partnerships and Business Development, Americas; Emily Connelly, Client Relationship Director; Leonard Hamersfeld, Director and Founder at Buzz; IFSA Chairperson Jane Bernier-Tran; Crystal O’Neilin, Partnerships and Business Development Director; Thelma Patsias and Simon Yaffe, Directors of Sales
T
he first IFSA Compass Awards Ceremony honored airlines suppliers and caterers September 25 during the opening of the IFSA/APEX/AIX Expo in Long Beach, California. In addition, PAX International honored the Bluebud mentorship program from JetBlue with the magazine’s first Pay It Forward Award for its work with a New York-based bread company. “I am proud to say that there is now an event that not only recognizes the outstanding contributions our members have made to the industry, but also celebrates the creativity and detail they put into their products and services,” said Jane Bernier-Tran, now Chairperson of IFSA, in a release on the award. “Those in the onboard services industry play a vital role in moving the in flight services industry forward, and we want to celebrate them.” PAX International Editor-in-Chief Rick Lundstrom was one of the judges for the event. Also judging was Mark Spiwak of Coca-Cola, Pam Suder-Smith of gategroup and Steve Murtoff of Southwest Airlines. Below and at left are photographs of the winners and staff, along with members of the IFSA Board of Directors and judges.
SATS of Singapore was the pick by the Compass Awards judges for Airline Caterer of the Year. Shown here, left to right, are Eng Wanyu, Senior Manager, Catering Marketing, Development; Mark Brown, Assistant Vice President, Production, SATS Inflight Catering Centre 2 with IFSA Chairperson Jane-Bernier Tran
A collection of tasty cocktail mixes earned Hawaiian Airlines the Compass Awards for Beverage Service. Shown here, left to right, is Rocco Milano from On The Rocks (OTR) Cocktails, the supplier; Paula Jansen, Senior Manager Catering, at Hawaiian; Paul Norman from Harvey Alpert Company and Mark Spiwack, Senior National Account Executive at Coca-Cola
PAX International’s first Pay it Forward Award was given to JetBlue for the Bluebud program that mentors local food companies and teaches them ways to sell products in the airline industry. PAX International Editor-in-Chief Rick Lundstrom presented the Award to Christie Lind, Senior Analyst Onboard Experience at JetBlue
Best Food Service went to an elegant and authentic selection aboard Thai Airways. Shown here, left, is Varangkana Luerojvong, Acting Managing Director for Thai Catering Thai Airways and Thai Catering Department with IFSA Chairperson Jane Bernier-Tran
The Polaris cabin on United Airlines earned the carrier the Airline of the Year award from IFSA. Shown here, left, is Rob Bradford, Managing Director for Global Product Design with Jane Bernier-Tran, IFSA Chairperson
www.pax-intl.com | PAX INTERNATIONAL | 39
SIAL MIDDLE EAST
Mercury
Caffé di Artisan, winners of the Mercury 2016 – Beverage Category at the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo in Hamburg, with Mercury organizer Jeremy Clark, right
Magic Another year under the direction of SIAL brings the venerable awards to a culmination at the Shangri-La Hotel in Abu Dhabi
T
he Mercury Awards recognizes the finest in airline travel catering and honors entrants in service concepts, food products, beverages and equipment categories. As an integral part of the Middle East’s fastest growing food and beverage event, SIAL Middle East, the 36th edition of the Awards will take place in a spectacular Gala Dinner December 12 at the Creekside location of the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat al Beri in Abu Dhabi. Over the course of 2017, The Mercury
Awards has formed historic partnerships and joined the industry around the world to support various initiatives and further build the ever-growing community of passionate industry professionals. The Mercury Awards Team was present in full force at the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo in Hamburg, Germany, where they met many of the previous Mercury winners. The International Flight Services Association (IFSA) and SIAL Middle East came
IFSA members and organizers joined SIAL and the group’s annual Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach. Left to right: Pam Suder-Smith of IFSA and gategroup; Joanne Cook of SIAL Middle East; Jane Bernier-Tran Chairperson at IFSA; Jeremy Clark, Mercury Awards Organizer and Judge; and Lauren Costello and Pam Chumley of the Kellen Company/IFSA
The Mercury Awards judging panel. Left to right: George Banks, Mark Tazzioli, Mirko Brenzinger, Jeremy Clark, Pam Suder-Smith, Simon Heppner
40 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
together this year to announce an historic agreement to collaborate and introduce initiatives that will support and strengthen the industry. Mercury Award judging returned to London this year with a dedicated product presentation running alongside the Innoveat event at the Park Inn, Heathrow. From the UK, Mark Tazzioli, from British Airways, and George Banks, Author of Gourmet and Glamour in the Sky, joined the panel.
REGISTER NOW
9 2018 APRIL
DEFINING THE FUTURE OF THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY
A ls
o a t te n d
Immerse yourself in new ideas, innovative solutions and the next steps in the evolution of passenger experiences, onboard environments and services.
REGISTER NOW
passengerexperinceconference.com/register Part of:
Hosted by:
9 - 12 APRIL 2018
Organised by:
SIAL MIDDLE EAST
THE
MERCURYS
NETWORKING PROCUREMENT KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
10am – 6pm • 12 - 14 December 2017 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Meet with 900+ Food, Beverage & Hospitality Exhibitors
THE REGION’S LARGEST GATHERING OF AIRLINE CATERING PROFESSIONALS YOUR AGENDA Monday 11th December 2017
Tuesday 12th December 2017
THE MERCURYS PRODUCT PRESENTATIONS
SPEED NETWORKING FOR TRAVEL CATERING SECTOR
(OPEN ONLY TO MERCURYS ENTRANTS)
9:00 AM – 7:00 PM - Capital Suite 12, ADNEC The official live product presentations.The judging panel will include Mirko Brenzinger, Jeremy Clark, Keerthi Happy Hapugasdeniya, Simon Heppner, Werner Kimmeringer & Pam Suder-Smith.
Tuesday 12th December 2017
(FOR EXHIBITORS & HOSTED BUYERS ONLY) 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM - Hosted Buyer Introduction Suite, Hall 9 Speed networking session for airlines and catering companies to meet with 20+ hand picked food and beverage suppliers.
Tuesday 12th December 2017
Shuttle Bus Timings: Departs at 9:30 AM from Traders Hotel to ADNEC
TRAVEL CATERING CONFERENCE AGENDA Session 1: Coffee in the Skies by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) 11:00 AM - 11:40 AM - Ceremony Theatre, Hall 7 Built on foundations of openness, inclusivity, and the power of shared knowledge, The SCA acts as a unifying force within the specialty coffee industry – invested in creating a worldwide circle of like-minded professionals. A one-of-a-kind workshop exploring ‘Coffee in the Skies’, including an interactive sensory demonstration and discussions on ways in which coffee can further bolster and differentiate an airline’s hospitality offering.
Shuttle Bus Timings: Departs at 6:00 PM from ADNEC to Shangri-La Return 10:00 PM Shangri-La to ADNEC
THE MERCURYS DINNER 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM The Beach Plaza, Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi 36th Edition of the world’s most prestigious travel catering award. The region’s largest gathering of airline catering professionals. The Mercurys Ticket Collection - VIP/Hosted Buyer Lounge (Hall 9)
Session 2: Critical Issues & Updates Addressed by Joe Leader, CEO, International Flight Services Association (IFSA) / Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) 11:50 AM - 12:30 PM - Ceremony Theatre, Hall 7 IFSA is a global association that serves the needs and interests of airlines, railway personnel, caterers and suppliers responsible for providing onboard passenger services. IFSA’s members are dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of the multi-billion dollar onboard services industry. Join the session to get an update on IFSA's activities relating to government engagement and collaboration, standard setting, and the critical World Food Safety Guidelines, a comprehensive guide produced by IFSA that is designed to serve as a valuable resource to assist the onboard industry in meeting and exceeding food safety standards. Lunch will be served at the La Cuisine VIP Restaurant from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (By Invitation only)
TO ATTEND SIAL MIDDLE EAST & THE MERCURYS CONTACT
Quinie Vergara q.vergara@sialme.com | +971 (0)4 342 2771 | www.themercurys.com The Mercurys 2017 Associates & Partners In association with
Beverage Partner Caviar Partner
Cheese Partner
Gift Partner
.com
42 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
Support Partner
Official Media Partner
READERSHIP AWARDS 2018
WANT TO
RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE?
}
HERE IS
YOUR
CHANCE!
You and your colleagues are invited to take part in The PAX International Readership Awards. With categories ranging from Best New IFE / Connectivity Launch by an Airline to Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier, PAX International is asking readers and their colleagues to vote for the industry’s most deserving players. The award winners will be announced on April 11th, 2018 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Hamburg. Please vote by February 28, 2018. Award winners will be featured in a special spread in PAX International, as well as in our e-Newsletter.
READERSHIP AWARDS Don’t miss your chance. Make your voice heard. VOTE NOW.
GO TO PAX-INTL.COM
WHAT’S HOT!
WHAT’S
HOT! Qantas Airlines Sheridan First Class bedding –
Neoprene pouches – Bayart Innovations: Bayart Innovations is pleased to reveal their new collection of neoprene pouches, made with the same waterproof material utilized in many diving suits. Pouches are rapidly becoming an in-demand post-flight accessory that can accompany passengers everywhere: from the bathroom, to the beach or even poolside. For those who love to rock out on the go, each pouch is designed with an exit port for headphones, meaning passengers can listen to music while resting assured their device is always safe from water damage.
Galileo Watermark: Qantas passengers traveling in the airline’s A380 First Class suites will be treated with a new range of luxurious bedding products created exclusively by Sheridan. The bedding ensemble has been crafted using luxury materials in neutral and soft earthy tones to match the First Class cabin interior. The ensemble also includes a memory foam mattress as well as super-soft Sheridan sheeting, a duvet cover made from soft-touch Tencel, a 100% combed-cotton woven throw, a soft-touch bolster cushion and one of three pillow styles. Infant passengers in Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class on international flights will also be offered a tiny and cozy Sheridan-designed baby blanket.
Pizza and fries in an ovenable box – Snackbox to-go: Snackbox to-go is launching an exciting new concept: pizza and fries together in a convenient, ovenable box. Following the enormous success of their Just Fries oven-ready boxed fries, Snackbox to-go is combining two of the world’s most popular snacks together in one easy-to-serve package. Customize your box with a triangle of any pizza flavor and a side of fries or, alternatively, opt for the Just Pizza box: two different pizza slices in one heatable container.
Ancillary sales platform – Guestlogix: Guestlogix is launching a new data-driven sales platform that addresses carriers’ revenue, sales and marketing needs, and heralds a new era for the company in airline retailing, ancillary revenues and passenger experience. The platform integrates retail best practices with air travel realities, similar to Starbucks and Amazon for airline ancillary sales. Currently in pre-release, launch partners and existing airline customers will be deploying the new platform through the fourth quarter of this year, with the full commercial release scheduled for January 15, 2018.
44 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
WHAT’S HOT!
Austrian Aircalin Children Kit — FORMIA: FORMIA has partnered with Aircalin to create the Aircalin Children Kit. The kit features Captain Gobi of the Blueband Gobi family, a character developed in FORMIA’s Design Studio, outfitted in the Aircalin captain’s uniform. The theme of the kit pays tribute to Aircalin’s interior cabin ambiance and features the lush lagoon-inspired hues and red earth landscapes of New Caledonia.
RiceUP – NUHEALTH: After conducting research and development for two years, NUHEALTH created a series of good-for-you rice snacks: Rice Cakes, Rice Chips, Rice Rolls and Rice Cakes with Belgian Chocolate. These products are produced without any yeast or frying, and they contain no GMOs, no glutamate, no artificial flavors or colors and no preservatives.
MiniBarBox – gateretail: Introducing the Frontier Awards 2017 Best Inflight Product of the Year: MiniBarBox (MBB), out of the box and into the moment! MBB offers a premium cocktail range (mojitos, cosmopolitans, margaritas and G&Ts) and a superior wine tasting collection. The organoleptic qualities of the wine are preserved via patented glass tubes, and the cocktail line contains color-changing botanicals. All to be paired with exclusive snacks for the full sensory experience.
LIVE OIL Extra Virgin Olive Oils – Group SOI: Group SOI’s new LIVE OIL Extra Virgin Olive Oils are now available in larger size glass bottles. These premium extra virgin olive oils are GMO-free and made with 100% natural ingredients. Hand-picked organic fresh herbs and spices are carefully dried and infused together with the finest extra virgin olive oil. There are 18 different varieties including saffron, oregano, rosemary, thyme, celery, cumin, coriander, basil, sage, fennel and black pepper, plus two new spice oils, nutmeg and juniper. Available in 15ml, 100ml, 500ml and 1-liter bottles.
Double Layers – Gut Springenheide: Double Layers, the exquisite new innovation by Gut Springenheide, are doublelayered crepes that are handmade using traditional recipes and fresh eggs. They are available with a delicious apricot, cherry or apple-raisin filling, are individually frozen and are easily prepared. A single serving weighs 80g, and they are packed into boxes of 42.
www.pax-intl.com | PAX INTERNATIONAL | 45
WHAT’S HOT! Draft Latte now in five new flavors – La Colombe: Driven by their belief that America deserves better coffee, La Colombe’s ready-to-drink coffee beverage delivers the full taste and texture of a true cold latte. Philadelphia-based La Colombe introduced five new readyto-drink products at this year’s IFSA Conference and Expo in Long Beach. The new flavors are: Coconut Mocha Draft Latte, Coconut Draft Latte, Chai Draft Latte, Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte and Peppermint Mocha Draft Latte. The new varieties join Draft Latte’s existing lineup, which includes the original Draft Latte, Vanilla Draft Latte, Mocha Draft Latte and Triple Draft Latte. La Colombe also produces a nontextured, ready-to-drink coffee: Pure Black®.
American Airlines Casper sleep products – WESSCO International: For months, mattress manufacturer Casper, in partnership with WESSCO International, studied the unique challenges of in flight sleep. Together they developed a series of innovative air travel products made exclusively for American Airlines. Beginning in December, customers seated in First or Business Class and Premium Economy on long-haul international and transcontinental flights can enjoy a suite comprised of sleep offerings designed by Casper’s award-winning engineering team.
Professional wash-up systems for Inflight Catering
Fly on the wings of perfection in terms of cleanliness, hygiene and safety.
Cleaned for take-off
Security and safety are the most important values an airline can offer today. A great number of checks are required before the captain and cabin crew of an aircraft are finally able to welcome the first passenger on board. This includes, making certain that travellers will receive a clean and hygienic service. With our warewashing systems for Inflight catering, we at MEIKO stand for a clean and perfect start. Whether you are city-hopping or launching for a long haul flight, MEIKO’s professional warewashing systems are guaranteed to reach the recommended level in purity, hygiene and cleanliness without comprise. This is the reason why you can find our technology everywhere around the globe where reliability, safety and efficiency count – from small business airports to large international traffic hubs. Discover the versatility of our tailor-made warewashing systems. Find out what we at MEIKO call the clean solution.
www.meiko.de
46 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
Don’t miss
Attend the leading global event for travel catering, onboard retail and passenger comfort… Don’t miss the opportunity to source the latest products and services from over 350 international suppliers. Network with 3,700 onboard professionals including 800 airline and rail buyers and be inspired by thought provoking presentations and demonstrations.
Register in advance to save €50 worldtravelcateringexpo.com/register
Co-Located with:
Passenger Technology Solutions
10–12 April 2018 Hamburg Messe, Germany
Organised by:
WHAT’S HOT!
CleanEasy
– Freshorize: As the hustle and bustle of the holidays near, Freshorize is simplifying cleaning on the sky front with their CleanEasy line. The company’s new all-in-one cleaner is designed with ease in mind, and can be used on all interior aircraft surfaces. The CleanEasy line includes a carpet and fabric cleaner as well as a lavatory cleaner, and all cleaners use a proprietary Performance Green Chemistry that is all-natural and environmentally friendly.
Bioveggie Vegetable Tablets – Chiangmai Bioveggie Co., Ltd.: Created by a company has acquired GMP, HACCP and HALAL certification, Bioveggie Vegetable Tablets are multivitamin dietary supplements made from 12 kinds of vegetables. By utilizing an innovative technology, these tablets maintain 80 to 90% of a vegetable’s natural vitamins after it is processed, allowing consumers to eat vegetables in a more convenient way, especially for those who may be averse to certain types of veggies.
Crescent Collection – Global Inflight Products: Global Inflight Products’ new rotable Crescent Collection is sure to bring a smile to even the weariest traveler’s face. Colorful, reusable, and lightweight – this service ware will make meals more fun.
b4® hand sanitizer –
Midway Advanced Products: Houston-based Midway Advanced Products makes the b4® hand sanitizer, exhibited at its Linstol stand at the recent APEX/IFSA Expo in Long Beach. It is an alcohol-free, anti-microbial gel that protects users against germs. The product is packaged in a pump bottle that is designed with sophisticated lines and a luxurious moisturizing feel. The company also gives 50% of its profits to children-focused causes through The Midway Foundation.
Inflight Tidy Kit – RMT Global Partners: RMT Global Partners introduces the Inflight Tidy Kit, a new first line cleaning/sanitation tool for cabin crews. The useful kit consists of a carry-all bag with a hook, a mop, a set of tongs and a dustpan with sweeper. (Each item is sold separately.) There is also an extra pocket space for additional small cleaning items, and it can be stored onboard with ease.
48 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
22-23 JANUARY 2018 DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE | UAE
T H E M I D D L E E A S T ’ S O N LY AIRCRAFT INTERIORS EVENT
“This is our third year exhibiting at AIME and our experience gets better every year. We have achieved more than expected – we have closed some business in addition to making some new contacts.” Marjan Trobis, General Executive Manager, Boxmark Leather
W W W. A I M E . A E R O
ASSOCIATION NEWS
IFSA Foundation names scholarship recipients This year, International Flight Services Association (IFSA) members and companies gave scholarships totaling more than $140,000 to help students and current onboard services professionals further their education. The IFSA Foundation Scholarships are used to cover tuition, books, living expenses and associated costs with college. The scholarships are available to employees or family members of employees of IFSA member companies. On the IFSA website, the group outlines several criteria to obtain the scholarship, including good academic standing; official transcripts for all high school and post-secondary studies at an accredited institution; three recommendation letters; proof of acceptance into an accredited college or university; and an essay outlining personal achievements, education, financial need and career goals.
Recipients of this year’s scholarships and members are:
Harvey & Laura Alpert Scholarship (Two)
Paige Kelly and Allison Linzing
JetBlue Airways Scholarship
Dylan Feliu
John and Ginnie Long Scholarship
Ruben Jimenez
John Louis Scholarship
Vivian Do
King Nut Companies Scholarship
Brandon Jenness
Korita Aviation Scholarship
David Bognar
LSG Group Scholarship (Two)
Kelly Bucher and Yasser Fathi Iselim Odeh
Michael J. Devine Memorial Scholarship
Parker Ragle
Oakfield Farms Solutions Scholarship
Liam Destefano
Southwest Airlines Scholarship
Kelly Carpenter
United Airlines Scholarship
Zina Darwish
WESSCO International Scholarship
Anisa Abdulahi
White Toque Scholarship
Indigo Brooks
AMI Scholarship
Justin Toro
McGuire & Associates Scholarship
Katelyn Foust
Sue Ling Gin Charitable Trust Scholarship (Two)
Ivo Hauck and Ryan Franklin
Inflight Resources, Plastic Products Co., The Roberts Group Scholarship
Bianca Cuccinello
Alphonse Joseph Scholarship
Brian Fay
Monte Vibiano Scholarship
Joshini Johnson
Delta Air Lines, Inc. Scholarship
Kate Krueger
RMT Global Partners Scholarship
Soraya Dicette
DFS, Inc. Scholarship
Amanda Myles
Ken Samara Scholarship
Ignacio Varela
dnata Scholarship
Britney Longmiles
James T. Pfannkuche Scholarship
gategroup Scholarship
Douglas Ronald and Nguuza Karugonjo
Sachindra Sanam Venkata
Air Fayre Scholarship
Garrett Ross
Gourmet Foods Scholarship (Two)
Alhassan Elbarrasse and Katelyn Galetka
Fleury Michon/Delta DailyFood Scholarship
Danielle Ochoa
Service Ideas Scholarship
Verania Ceja Franco
PED ban brings suggestions from IATA The summer ban on larger carry-on personal electronic devices for flights from some Middle Eastern airports into the United States and United Kingdom prompted the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in November to call on aviation security to be further strengthened by addressing four key areas. “Governments and the industry are partners in aviation security. Airlines have operational know-how. Governments have the financial and intelligence resources. We have to put them together effectively in a continuous dialogue focused on improving security,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, in a keynote address to the IATA AVSEC World Conference in Abu Dhabi. First, IATA said governments must avoid the long-term use of extraterritorial measures and ensure that airlines are not left to bear the financial brunt of unplanned expenses for an indeterminate period. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirement that airlines conduct interviews with passengers flying to the U.S. is an example of an extraterritorial requirement, said IATA. “Such interviews are traditionally done by government authorities. In the short term airlines may seem to be the best positioned to conduct the interviews. But in the long-term, if governments believe that these interviews are critical, then 50 | PAX INTERNATIONAL | DECEMBER 2017
governments themselves should work together to dedicate the resources needed to fulfill that function,” said de Juniac. Second, Global standards are critical to effectively manage the security of a global industry. “States are responsible for implementing effective security measures. Annex 17 of the Chicago Convention — which has been in place for four decades – makes this clear. But shockingly 40% of states have struggled to implement even its baseline requirements. This is not good enough,” said de Juniac. De Juniac welcomed the development of the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP) by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and urged its swift implementation. Third, better information sharing and coordination on security measures among governments and with the industry is essential, said IATA. The differing responses by governments to the threats that resulted in this year’s ban on PEDs on some routes by the U.S. and U.K. is an example of the confusion that can result. “Airlines don’t want access to state secrets. But if airlines understand the outcome governments want, they can help with the operational experience to deliver results effectively and efficiently,” said de Juniac. Finally, technology plays a key role in keeping aviation secure. For example, the utilization of explosive trace detection (ETD) screening was integral to lifting of the U.S. ban on large PEDs in the cabin. The use of ETD will soon become an Annex 17 standard. Certification processes need to be streamlined and coordinated across jurisdictions. Also, information technology should be employed more intensely, said IATA, so that passenger information can be referenced at airport checkpoints.
Because a happy crew means happy passengers Space saving, longer lasting, lighter weighing, cost saving ‌ our innovative and award-winning crew and service equipment has wow factor too. Our user-friendly trolleys and inserts are designed to make life simpler while our galley equipment will withstand the toughest operational demands and environments. We always go further to ensure that our equipment is cost-effective and work-efficient for an unrivaled onboard experience that means smiles all round. Discover how we can take your brand to a new level: visit www.spiriant.com
FROM
activating TO
relaxing
When traveling often, FlyYourVeda® is a unique choice to support your body’s demands according to your needs FlyYourVeda is a new inflight meal concept that accurately responds to the body’s demands during a flight. Adapted to onboard conditions, the menus are based on easily digestible, nutritious, high quality foods. The concept was created by the LSG Group Culinary Excellence team and translated into LSG Sky Chefs’ “activating” or “relaxing” menus. FlyYourVeda allows you to pursue a healthy lifestyle even during long-haul flights and supports your wellbeing on board in the best possible way. Find out more about the FlyYourVeda concept and menus: