FEBRUARY 2021 | www.pax-intl.com
MRO, MRO, Interiors Interiors & & IFEC IFEC
D A E H A S E I K S BLUE ic era
post-pandem e th r fo rs o ri te in g n ti ap d A
BONU
S
Trolle : cover y age
Color schemes, lighting and connectivity
EDITOR’S LETTER
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Captive connectivity
R
etrofit projects may be getting cancelled and aircraft orders delayed, but onboard connectivity on commercial aircraft fleet is still set to double over the next eight years, according to the most recent survey and market report to reach us as we were completing this issue of PAX Tech. The report, The Future of In-Flight Connectivity – 2020 Edition, is available for purchase from Valour Consultancy, a UK-based business. While growth over the next two years will probably be slow, notes the company, the 9,026 connected aircraft at the end of this year will grow to approximately 18,500 by 2029. Valour said most of those newly connected aircraft will be line fit with systems and approximately 70 percent of the installations will take place in narrow-body jets. It makes sense, as airlines have been deferring widebody orders, while new aircraft like those in the A320 series are able to fly much greater distances. In addition to shifting focus on different aircraft, airlines are also shifting the digital and cabin service strategies, too. Contactless interaction, customer reassurance and seamless digital service are going to rule the skies in the years ahead. A new term for an older feature is working its way into the world of IFC. Airlines like American and Cathay Pacific have what is called a “captive portal” helping them take greater ownership of the IFC services. The captive portal is the forward facing part of onboard Wi-Fi. It’s what passengers
see when they first try logging in and typing in their credentials, whether it is a name, frequent flyer number or seat number. It tends to house pricing information and packages for passengers to choose, as well as retail offerings and advertisements. “Deploying an engaging portal is an achievable short-term win for carriers that already have IFC or wireless IFE that will continue to drive long-term growth,” said Valour. Any opportunity for ancillary revenue represents a way back for airlines around the world. What had become an established source of income remained that through 2020. The yearly survey by IdeaWorks Company and cartrawler showed that ancillary revenue actually increased during the depths of the pandemic, when measured on a per passenger basis. During the third quarter of 2020 the survey of 20 airlines showed that passenger spend was an average of $26.91 while the 2019 spend was $23.36. Getting passengers to part with money to pay for Wi-Fi is clearly not the only source for revenue. Airlines such as the JAL subsidiary ZIPAIR see cabin connectivity as a means to an end, that is, purchases made onboard during the flight. As the rollout continues over the next few years, the possibilities will become more varied and more vital. “IFC can, at the very least, enhance many applications linked to these areas and, as a result, will become more integral to airlines than before the pandemic hit,” said Valour, in an introduction the report.
magazine do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher or editor. July 2019. 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
Rick Lundstrom Editor-in-Chief PAX Tech
www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 3
CONTENTS
10
Features
14 FEBRUARY 2021 | www.pax-intl.com
MRO, Interiors & IFEC
BLUE SKIES AHEAD post-pandemic era Adapting interiors for the
BONU
S:
Trolley covera ge
Color schemes, lighting and connectivity
ON THE COVER: PriestmanGoode’s Pure Skies interiors concept uses purples and blues to create a calm cabin atmosphere. More on how color schemes affect the passenger experience on page 7.
DEPARTMENTS
3 5 17
EDITOR’S NOTE NEWS ASSOCIATION NEWS
4 | PAX TECH | FEBRUARY 2021
COLOR SCHEMES
7
COLOR ME CALM Interiors designers and suppliers are seeing the trends shift when it comes to popular cabin colors and textures – and its effect on the passenger experience
AIRLINE PROFILE
10
ADVANCING COMFORT PAX Tech explores the features of JetBlue’s new A220, including how Ultraleather PromessaAV material from Ultrafabrics and Tapis Corp enhances comfort
LIGHTING
12 14
TRENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT Cobalt Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik are looking ahead with inspiring lighting trends, from white lighting and calming colors to effects that reduce jetlag THE UV VENTURE UV Light disinfection techniques are in high demand in the industry right now for the proven efficacy in destroying viruses. dnata and Boeing are among the companies creating cabin solutions with the technology
CONNECTIVITY
15
THE NEW BASIC Into the headwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic Japan Airlines spun off a new lowcost carrier that has expanded to three routes and a cabin service that may be a glimpse of the future
NEWS
SUPPLIER
West Entertainment adds AI functionality to WE platform West Entertainment announced at the end of January the addition of an AI functionality to its WE by West platform which will predict consumer tastes. The workflow engine gives airline clients and all key partners a central platform to manage and inform stakeholders of all tasks due and accomplished. It captures services from content offering to deliverables and sets up notifications, reminders and simplifies selection down to final invoicing. Users can search content availabilities, watch trailers, read reviews and select content from personal devices, as well as track orders and access financials and reports for each programming cycle. The foundation in the platform is West’s global database, which is accessible 24/7. It contains metadata requirements and spec details across all hardware profiles.
PEOPLE
Stefan Stolzki appointed KID-Systeme Managing Director In January KID-Systeme GmbH announced a change in its multi-member Board with the appointment of Stefan Stolzki as Managing Director, taking over from Peter Schetschine. Stolzki is a graduate of the University of Applied Sciences in Lübeck, Germany. After graduating in Industrial Engineering, he held various senior management Stefan Stolzki, Managing positions in Logistics and Customer Director, KID-Systeme Service at Satair and Airbus Operations. KID-Systeme, an Airbus subsidiary, is managed in a dual leadership set-up. Next to Fokke Mentjes, Stefan Stolzki will be responsible for the overall revenue generation including business development, product line management, sales, customer program management, marketing communications and events.
AIRLINE
British Airways trials VeriFLY, a mobile travel health passport British Airways announced last month that it is trialing travel health app VeriFLY with passengers traveling between London and the US. British Airways is the first airline in the UK to trial the use of a mobile travel health passport. American Airlines, British Airways’ joint business partner, is also trialling the app for passengers traveling to the US from all international destinations. Pioneered by software company Daon, VeriFLY allows users to combine travel verification documents and COVID-19 test results within their secure profile in the app, ensuring compliance with destination entry requirements before leaving home. Certified users will be fast-tracked through the airport where designated desks will be available for check-in. Phase two, which will follow in the near future, will extend to cover customers traveling to the UK from the US across both carriers. This will make British Airways and American Airlines the first transatlantic partners to offer a digital solution for eligible passengers flying to the UK.
VeriFLY allows passengers to combine travel verification documents and COVID-19 test results in one place
www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 5
NEWS
SUPPLIER
COMPANY
Diehl secures contract IdeaNova Technologies extension for 787 adds Inplay Video interior lighting system Chat to IFE portal At the beginning of February, Diehl Aerospace announced it has secured a contract extension from Boeing for the delivery of the interior lighting system for the 787. Diehl has a long-standing relationship with Boeing, supplying cabin interiors and aircraft systems parts since the early 1990s. The initial contract for the development and serial production was signed in 2005. The extended contract expires at the end of 2022. The cabin has an all LED mood-lighting system designed and developed about two decades ago by Diehl. The company is now providing a new generation of LED solutions, offering significant cost reductions while maintaining outstanding quality performance and optical appearance, according to the February 3 press release.
Diehl has a long-standing relationship with Boeing, supplying cabin interiors and aircraft systems parts since the early 1990s
The Inplay Video Chat function from IdeaNova Technologies allows passengers to stay connected with others while enjoying inflight entertainment together
IdeaNova Technologies has added a video chat function to its IFE portal. Passengers can initiate video chat with the click of a button, helping to limit face-to-face interaction while staying connected and taking advantage of IFE content, maintaining the social aspect of flying. It also helps create safe communication between passengers and crew. While Inplay Video Chat is offered as stand-alone SDK for airlines to integrate, Inplay Portal integration is well engineered. All Inplay components (including Microsoft PlayReady DRM) run on Linux, allowing an easier integration for airlines and IFE operators. IdeaNova DRM infrastructure has gone through many updates for new features and better performance, as well as by external changes imposed by vendors such as Google, Microsoft and Apple, according to the press release. The Inplay IFE portal allows passengers to find movies and TV shows, and set up their watchlist before boarding. It includes ad-based video-on-demand, live TV and games. It also keeps passengers informed with automatic pause for PA announcements. IdeaNova plans to provide in-person demos of the Video Chat function at AIX Hamburg 2021.
AIRLINE
Qatar Airways updates 787-8 fleet with Thales AVANT system Qatar Airways has announced it is updating its current 787-8 fleet with Thales AVANT inflight entertainment system. The upgrade program by Thales is designed to adapt to the existing legacy system, incorporating new AVANT screens and servers into the seats and infrastructure. This allows for full seat modification, hardware and all required certifications, as well as the ability to integrate all Qatar fleets with AVANT IFE The AVANT system offers a large selection of features
6 | PAX TECH | FEBRUARY 2021
and applications with high-capacity servers to store more than a terabyte of media content including the latest HD movies, TV show episodes and music collections. It introduces the latest HD, capacitive touchscreen technology for seamless navigation of the graphical user interface using gestures from personal devices. The lightweight screens feature more than 16 million colors and are two-to-three times brighter than the previous technology. Business Class has 17-inch touchscreens and main cabin has 12-inch smart displays.
COLOR SCHEMES
Color me calm
The JAMCO Venture Pristine Business Class seat incorporates antimicrobial and antiviral material solutions, and the trim and finish help maximize cleanliness
Interiors designers and suppliers are seeing the trends shift when it comes to popular cabin colors and textures – and its effect on the passenger experience by JANE HOBSON
C
olor, materials and finish (CMF) have always been hugely important for aircraft interiors designers and suppliers when reflecting an airline brand and soothing the passenger experience. Now, industry experts are focusing on these details to build passenger trust and inspire a perception of cleanliness in the cabin.
Something blue Lizzie Spreadbury, CMF Creative Lead, Acumen Design Associates
While cabin design previously favored dark hues for the ability to hide stains and marks, PriestmanGoode is hearing more talk about the use of lighter colors, such as white, to create a sense of cleanliness. But, with light colors comes some challenges, like keeping the material clean and well maintained which is key for economic and environmental reasons, says Maria Kafel-Bentkowska, Head of Color, Material and Finish at PriestmanGoode. “Whether this actually translates to the future of transport interiors is to be seen. It may be that we start seeing accents of
www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 7
COLOR SCHEMES
Global Inflight Products predicts earthy colors, such as the ones used in the Green Is Possible product line, and blue hues, as seen in the Clean Is Possible product line, will gain popularity as the industry moves through the pandemic
light colors. The take up will also depend on how stain proof and self-cleaning material technologies develop,” she explains. The company works with its customers to choose interiors schemes drawn predominantly from the airline brand colors, or in the case of national carriers, from the colors, patterns and visual heritage inspired by the region. White is traditionally seen as the symbol of cleanliness, purity and newness – especially in Western culture – but with PriestmanGoode’s post-COVID interiors concept Pure Skies uses purples and blues create a calm and reassuring onboard experience. Blue has strong links to medical environments and the UV Light cleaning methods that are popular in the industry right now. In the Pure Skies project, seating color is combined with thermochromic and photochromic pigments which react to heat from UV Light. When the cabin is cleaned, a message appears within the fabric of the seats, giving confidence to passengers that they are entering a newly sanitized environment, Kafel-Bentkowska says. “CMF has always been a central element of our work. The challenge going forward will be to create color and material schemes that instill trust in passengers, reflect a sense of cleanliness while at the same time representing the airline’s brand,” she says. 8 | PAX TECH | FEBRUARY 2021
Layered trust
Acumen Design Associates’ is working on a ‘blue sky’ conceptual program, focused on how specific colors, color temperature and saturation levels trigger different emotional responses in passengers and how this impacts productivity, relaxation and ability to rest inflight. It takes into account universally understood color theories and scientific and psychological studies based on neuro-aesthetics that influence the body’s circadian system (the human body’s internal clock). The Biophilia Hypothesis describes the innate psychological connection all humans have with the natural environment, explains Lizzie Spreadbury, CMF Creative Lead at Acumen Design Associates. This is why humans tend to find colors that appear in nature to be the most relaxing. Blue is considered to enhance trust, safety and relaxation while green is commonly used in hospitality environments as it is considered to be a welcoming and reassuring color, she says, adding that these colors also trigger a physical response that lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) to make people feel more relaxed. Working with light colors runs the risk of portraying a clinical and cold environment. “We should be careful about how and where it is used, although it would be a good choice for smaller touch points such as meal tray surfaces,”
Acumen Design Associates’ work on the JetBlue Mint cabin refresh focused on how lighting, color and texture affect the passenger experience, including how subtle moodlighting offers a sense of calm and serenity
Seat fabrics on PriestmanGoode’s post-COVID interiors concept Pure Skies include photochromic and thermochromic inks that react to UV-C and heat cleaning to display a reassuring message that they are sanitized
Spreadbury says. “We predict the next generation of cabin interiors will feature a range of welcoming and relaxing earthy tones, combined with tactile natural finishes.” The quality and durability of materials are key considerations for future cabin designs. Self-healing and scratch resistant plastics remove any imperfection that indicate wear and tear, improving the passenger perception of cleanliness, Spreadbury explains. Acumen Design Associates worked with JetBlue on the recent refresh of the Mint cabin. The design takes into account how light affects color schemes and inflight services, such as the presentation of food. Balanced brightness compliments and exposes a clean cabin. Subtle moodlighting offers a sense of calm and serenity. The cabin also features easy-to-clean, durable, layered textures, such as the Polystone feature lighting, to emphasize the tactility of cabin touch points and create a sense of calm and relaxation. “An easily maintained cabin and one that is easy to clean is now every bit as important as spectacular color scheme when it comes to delivering a consistent brand experience – reinforcing trust in air travel and building passenger confidence,” Spreadbury says.
New neutral
“Color plays a big part in thoughtful design. We consider it in all our projects and branding,” says Alexa Wordsworth, Marketing/Graphic Designer at Global Inflight Products (GIP). “Color is a way to convey emotions. We have hope looking forward and colors can help emphasize that.” The company predicts that neutrals will gain popularity. More intense colors (such as red which is associated with caution) will likely be replaced with more comforting colors, such as blue and beige. “Neutrals are a safe option that can be incorporated without completely changing an airline’s color brand identity,” Wordsworth explains. The onboard products supplier used blue in its branding before the pandemic, and carried the color into its personal protective equipment, galley and lavatory cleaning products line Clean Is Possible, along with beige, green and other earthy tones. “[Blue] is such a fitting color to represent purity, sanitization and security. Beige represents a comforting, cozy feeling,” Wordsworth tells PAX. “There have been many studies on how colors subconsciously make people feel. That information should definitely be considered when designing a cabin that will make passengers comfortable.” “Green and earthy tones are also prominent in our Green Is Possible line – offering sustainable versions of key inflight products,” says Lisa Benzaoui, Chief Executive Officer at GIP. While sustainability-minded cabin products, such as bamboo fiber towels and sugarcane beverage napkins, was a relatively new concept in 2010, she says GIP predicts this trend will continue to grow in popularity for its natural and clean appearance. GIP is updating its offerings in all product lines. “Onboard products are focused on the necessities during this time and we always look ahead to refresh these basics for our clients - as we forecast a bright future for air travel,” Benzaoui says.
Clean scheme
Jamco has also seen a move toward the trend of white and blue as the pandemic brings the focus of hygiene and cleanliness to the forefront, as well as bringing outdoorsy colors in to brighten the cabin. The Venture Pristine Business Class seat, launched in January, was designed to emphasize cleanliness. It incorporates the latest antimicrobial and antiviral material solutions, and the trim and finish help maximize cleanliness both inflight and when sanitizing after use. The company attends exhibitions, such as the annual Italian furnishing and accessories event Milano Salone, for inspiration on the latest trends in furniture and consumer products, which is brought into design projects. In the future, the company would like to expand the range of designs and propose total cabin coordination using galley, lavatories and seats manufactured by Jamco. www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 9
AIRLINE PROFILE
Advancing
comfort PAX Tech explores the features of JetBlue’s new A220, including how Ultraleather PromessaAV material from Ultrafabrics and Tapis Corp enhances comfort by SABRINA PIRILLO
On JetBlue’s new A220, Core Experience offers six rows of its Even More Space seating with up to seven inches of additional legroom for passengers
Ultraleather® PromessaAV is manufactured using proprietary Takumi Technology. Four layers are passed through an immersion bath and cure together when dry making a unified, vegan-leather fabric that is durable, stain resistant, allergen and odor free, antimicrobial, noncorrosive and low maintenance
10 | PAX TECH | FEBRUARY 2021
J
etBlue kicked off the year with the delivery of its first order of the A220 model aircraft. The unveiled cabin includes components from a number of companies, including seats from Collins Aerospace, Thales’ AVANT IFE seatback system and Viasat for connectivity. JetBlue ordered 70 aircraft in total, to be delivered to its home at John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 5. “With the A220, it was exciting because the aircraft is so spacious,” Mariya Stoyanova, director of product development at JetBlue tells PAX Tech. Following on the success of the airline’s A321neo product, JetBlue leveraged the size of the A220 cabin to offer passengers as much comfort as possible. The A220 marks the airline’s first two-by-three configuration, resulting in fewer middle seats. JetBlue chose the Meridian seat from Collins Aerospace for the 140-seat cabin. The seat has an expanded width of 18.6 inches and a contoured seatback at knee level that gives each passenger more living space. The Ultraleather® seatback cushion and headrest add a sophisticated and comfortable feel. JetBlue’s Core Experience, or Economy Class, offers six rows of its Even More Space seating, which results in up to seven inches of additional legroom.
JetBlue’s new A220 is outfitted with the Meridian seat from Collins Aerospace. Ultraleather® PromessaAV, a breathable vegan material from Ultrafabrics and distributed by Tapis Corp, offers more support and comfort for passengers
so experts experimented with the color orange, “which was brought to a level of a candlelight hue,” Stoyanova says, adding that, “fun is a big part of our culture and brand.”
Comfortable and cool
High ceilings and large windows help passengers feel like the space is “huge,” Stoyanova adds. The added comfortability is convenient on the A220 which JetBlue plans to fly for “longer missions,” Stoyanova says. The aircraft has a nearly 30 percent lower direct operating cost per seat than the current Embraer 190. Optimizing fuel burn is a step in JetBlue’s cost-conscious sustainability strategy, and prioritizing fuel-efficient aircraft and engines aligns its approach to reducing emissions. Earlier this year, JetBlue became the first major U.S. airline to achieve carbon neutrality for all domestic flights. In August 2019, Viasat and JetBlue announced that the A220-300 fleet would be equipped with the company’s free, high-speed Fly-Fi connectivity, but the two companies have been partners since December of 2013. The A220s are outfitted with Viasat’s Ka-band IFC kit, which is compatible with the company’s entire constellation of satellites. Being a playful brand, Stoyanova says the airline integrates its identity in a non-obvious way throughout the cabin. The mood-lighting aboard the A220 is inspired by the schemes from the A321neo, including its signature blue and orange pallet. The color selection is designed with both the passengers and crew in mind and scenarios are mapped out in a mock-up cabin setting. One color selection for passengers was suggested by a crew member where JetBlue wanted to create a warm cabin feeling
A major focus for the refresh was making seating more comfortable for each passenger, from collaborators including Tapis, and Ultrafabrics. Outfitted with the Meridian seat from Collins, the headrest and seatback cushion are made from Ultraleather® PromessaAV, a breathable vegan material from Ultrafabrics and distributed by Tapis Corp. Tapis is Ultrafabrics’ exclusive agent and distributor in the aviation industry, working together for more than 40 years. “We’re spending a lot of time in research development and engineering,” says Matthew Nicholls, Sales Director at Tapis. “We need safety, cleanability, antimicrobial products, and comfort to look after the passenger.” Ultrafabrics’ manufactures PromessaAV using proprietary Takumi Technology. The microfoam, protective surface layer, topskin layer and substrate layer is manufactured in a wet process that does not use adhesive. The layers are passed through an immersion bath and cure together when dry. It results in one unified fabric with lasting strength, without concerns of delamination. It is durable, protects from stains and moisture damage, is allergen and odor free, antimicrobial, non-corrosive and low maintenance. This method is what keeps the seat looking and feeling like new, Nicholls says. The alternative dry adhesive method that some suppliers use bonds different fabrics together through lamination, including an unfoamed polyurethane material, which does not support the passenger to the same degree, leading to a much less comfortable inflight experience, he explains. Due to the breathability of the microfoam layer, PromessaAV also helps dissipate heat away from the body to keep the passenger at a comfortable temperature, which is generally 67 degrees Fahrenheit, Nicholls says. Something that is super important for passengers who are trying to enjoy a meal or sleep in the confines of a cabin. “We can maintain that 67 degrees Fahrenheit, which means we can maintain thermal equilibrium – which means that we’re more comfortable,” Nicholls explains.
www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 11
LIGHTING Blue branded lighting by Cobalt Aerospace in the Joon cabin. The color blue is a color that broadly communicates trust, reliability and professionalism. CREDIT: JOON
TRENDING TOWARDS
THE LIGHT
Cobalt Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik are looking ahead with inspiring lighting trends, from white lighting and calming colors to effects that reduce jetlag
L
by SABRINA PIRILLO
ighting is used strategically in hospitality settings to communicate with visitors, whether it acts as a guide around a venue, indicates quiet time or enhances the visual aesthetics of a space. The same rings true for cabin interior lighting. With the pandemic strongly suggesting an uptick in travel-related anxiety, interior lighting designers and suppliers are finding ways to curb the unease to meet customer requests. Cobalt Aerospace is seeing demand for white light that refreshes a dated cabin appearance, and Lufthansa Technik has developed cabin lighting that shifts with new time zones with its partner jetlite.
Sophisticated selections
Cobalt Aerospace has noticed an increase in operators favoring more sophisticated hues for cabins, Gary Girard, President of Cobalt Aerospace, tells PAX Tech. Strong colors remain popular during boarding, but airlines are opting for more relaxing colors inflight, such as muted purples and blues. These colors help passengers feel reassured and comfortable, Girard says. The designer and manufacturing company offers LED cabin lighting in bespoke colors with its Cobalt Spectrum drop-in mood lighting system. Beyond enhancing the
12 | PAX TECH | FEBRUARY 2021
passenger experience, LED lighting systems offer long-term operational benefits and cost savings, Girard explains. With Cobalt Spectrum, airlines can choose lighting scenes that complement brand colors, enhance passenger sleep and the appearance of meals, and create designs such as Northern Lights. Cobalt Spectrum also includes Age Correction Technology, a set of algorithms to correct LEDs as they age. The color and light wash in the cabin will be consistent, eliminating the risk of patchy and faded light that can come with alternative and older systems. LED systems will outlast fluorescent tubes several times over, Girard says. Because the lifespan of an LED unit is longer than fluorescent, installing an LED system contributes less landfill waste as units need to be changed and replaced less often. Unlike fluorescent tubes, Cobalt Spectrum units contain no harmful mercury. “LED lighting is the perfect choice for airlines as it will benefit the operator from the very first flight and will also continue to improve the passenger experience, as well as lessen operational costs in the longer term,” Girard says.
Everything is going to be all-white
Cobalt Aerospace is seeing operators keen to include allwhite schemes. “A high-quality white light wash can go a long way to make the interior of an aircraft look fresher and newer, particularly in the case of older aircraft,” Girard says. “This can benefit operators by extending the life of a cabin design and giving passengers confidence in the aircraft they are flying on. The industry’s recovery post-pandemic will be all about rebuilding passenger trust and encouraging customers
Together with its partner jetlite, Lufthansa Technik offers cabin lighting scenarios that can shift passengers’ inner clock up to three hours. CREDIT: LUFTHANSA
MINI Q&A! PAX Tech: Of more than 16 million LED colors, why are some colors more popular than others? Gary Girard, President, Cobalt Aerospace: Certain colors are popular for various reasons; most often based on branding, color theory, science and trends:
to feel safe when traveling by air. Creating a comforting cabin ambience will be key to reassuring customers, and light certainly has a big part to play in creating an environment that feels clean and safe,” he says.
Light and rhythm
Thoughtful lighting also helps benefit passengers’ moods long after touching down. Together with its partner jetlite, Lufthansa Technik offers cabin lighting scenarios that can shift passengers’ inner clock up to three hours. “The trend goes beyond mood lighting to chronobiological effective lighting that reduces jet lag,” Dr. Achim Leder, Chief Executive Officer of jetlite, tells PAX Tech. This is achieved by providing a specific light color at the right time, explains Niels Dose, Product Sales & Key Account Manager at Lufthansa Technik. By helping to adapt biorhythms – a recurring cycle in human function, such as sleeping and waking – to the destination time zone, passengers will feel less jetlag and have an overall better experience during and post-flight, Dose says. At the core of the solution for line fit and retrofit is an algorithm developed by jetlite that focuses on chronobiology. Considering flight parameters such as routes, directions and time zones, the algorithm yields optimal lighting scenarios for increased overall passenger health and wellbeing. For example, warm light with a high proportion of red for relaxation is supplied during periods of rest, whereas cooler light with a high proportion of blue color provides stimulation for more active phases, Leder says. jetlite is developing an app that gives passengers recommendations on the ways to reduce jetlag at every step of the journey.
BRANDING • Airlines want interior lighting schemes to match, enhance or complement the brand • Industry branding is dominated by colors like blue, red, green and yellow, and interiors design often corresponds to this COLOR THEORY • Airlines choose these colors for the positive connotations, the traits they want a customer to associate with the brand • For example, blue is a color that broadly communicates trust, reliability and professionalism • Red communicates passion, excitement and importance SCIENCE • Science proves that light has a huge influence on the human body and Cobalt Aerospace helps airlines select color journeys that are in tune with natural biorhythms • Poorly lit cabins can mean long-haul passengers struggle to regulate their sleep and wake cycle, leading to ill health and a poor passenger experience • Calming, muted colors like lavender can be used to encourage the body to produce melatonin, leading to a restful sleep • Pale sunrise colors can be used to gently ease the body into wakefulness TRENDS • Brand and interior will always be influenced by trends within the aviation industry and as part of a broader setting • With Cobalt Spectrum’s Virtual Light Modes, operators can add and remove an unlimited number of light sequences, ensuring the cabin stays up to date with the latest lighting trends www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 13
LIGHTING
THE UV VENTURE UV Light disinfection techniques are in high demand in the industry right now for the proven efficacy in destroying viruses. dnata and Boeing are among the companies creating cabin solutions with the technology by SABRINA PIRILLO
Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways tested dnata’s enhanced cabin cleaning service
M
any airlines are including the use of UV Light as part of their cabin sanitization regime because of its ability to inactivate viruses. Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways tested the use of dnata’s UV technology in late-2020, and among the early partners for Boeing’s UV wand was Etihad Airways in August of last year. JetBlue and Qatar Airways both deploy Honeywell’s UV cabin cleaning technology. In December, SCIS, the LSG Group’s subsidiary for security, sanitization and mobile device management, announced that it is offering a germicidal UV-C solution in partnership with SteriFlight. UV (Ultraviolet) Light radiation refers to a region of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and X-rays. There are three categories of UV Light: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. UV-C has been used for decades in disinfecting food, air and water by killing microorganisms and destroying the cell nucleic acid, explains Stanford University’s Solar Center website. And, according to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), UV-C radiation may be effective in inactivating COVID-19 as it has been shown to efficiently and safely inactivate airborne human coronaviruses.
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dnata boost
In December, dnata announced its work with Switzerland-based tech company Uveya on a proof of concept for its UV-C cabin interior sanitization technology. Previously made for use outside the industry, Uveya sought dnata as partner to bring the solution to the commercial aviation sector, in partnership with airline customer Helvetic Airways. An autonomous, aluminum robot emits concentrated UV-C light across the cabin, effectively killing more than 99 percent of bacteria and pathogens in the air and on all surfaces within a few minutes, without the use of chemicals. Each light panel on the robot can operate for up to 6,000 hours and can easily be replaced. A mechatronic solution prevents electrical failures and ensures that the system is constantly updated, and for added security, it is activated and deactivated remotely. It automatically deactivates in case of human presence in the cabin. dnata is now working on implementing the technology across its platforms. “Customers and their passengers will continue to expect the highest level of safety even in a post-pandemic world,” Guillaume Crozier, Divisional Vice President Operations and Product Development, dnata, tells PAX Tech. “We continue to invest in advanced
Guillaume Crozier, Divisional Vice President Operations and Product Development, dnata
technologies to deliver world-class safety and provide passengers with confidence and peace of mind when they fly with our airline customers.”
Boeing UV wand
Boeing has worked with an ultraviolet laboratory for several years and was inspired to develop a portable UV wand for sanitization. Resembling a carry-on suitcase, the self-contained apparatus passes UV-C light over the cabin to inactivate pathogens in less than 15 minutes. Designed specifically for aircraft application, the device is particularly successful in compact spaces, according to the August 2020 press release from Boeing. Among its early partners was Etihad Airways. Boeing has since entered into patent and technology licenses with Far UV Technologies and Healthe Inc., according to the website. Under the licenses, both companies will produce and distribute the commercial wand, helping airlines and potentially other industries combat COVID-19.
CONNECTIVITY
Recaro seating at a 31-inch pitch is in the Standard Value class
The new basic Into the headwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic Japan Airlines spun off a new low-cost carrier that has expanded to three routes and a cabin service that may be a glimpse of the future
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by RICK LUNDSTROM
ost in the headlines of a worldwide virus and its devastating effects on the travel industry, a small startup airline with a big partner boarded its first passengers in the fall and is moving ahead with ambition and experimental approaches In 2021, ZIPAIR Tokyo has added a third route to its Asia-Pacific service and plans to acquire up to two 787-8
Dreamliners per year. Some features of the service require onboard purchasing while others are complimentary. However, the entire inflight service component relies on well-known partners, while shying away from the typical label. “Rather than putting ourselves in the low-cost carrier box, we’ve examined and formulated our service to become a ‘new basic’ airline,” explains Mashahiro Nishiyama,
ZIPAIR’s Full-Flat class has 18 seats, with Jamco as the supplier
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CONNECTIVITY
The 787s of ZIPAIR now operate to three routes, Bangkok, Incheon and Honolulu
ZIPAIR’s Marketing Manager, in a blog post on the website of one of its important partners, Panasonic Avionics. With the roll out of ZIPAIR, parent company Japan Airlines is offering a carrier specializing in medium- to long-haul routes. Along with that, Nishiyama says, is a new service model designed to meet diversified needs of airline passengers and create new demand. Japan Airlines has larger goals in mind as well: A desire to bring more tourists to Japan, up to 60 million per year by 2030. ZIPAIR and Japan Airlines also want to promote the use of Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), which is scheduled to expand its functions in the near future. To reach those goals, they are starting out small. When ZIPAIR launched in June of last year, it had two routes from NRT: Bangkok and Seoul Incheon. The airline has since added Honolulu to its service, competing head-to-head with All Nippon Airways. In the fall, tickets on ZIPAIR Tokyo were selling at approximately US$180 for one way flights and $544 for round trip. “In addition, the services offered by our parent company, JAL, we believe that there was demand for an LCC market within Japan,” Nishiyama says. The airline’s official launch of passenger service on the two routes took place June 3 of last year, but true to the world problems, its initial runs were cargo only. Nonetheless, the airline operated the routes through the summer and first passengers were boarded in October.
In the cabin
ZIPAIR’s two 787s seat 290 passengers in a two-class configuration with a fare structure that could be different from any other airline in the world. Eighteen seats are in the “ZIP Full-Flat Value” Section and 272 in “Standard Value.” There is also a service called “U6 Standard Value” which offers a separate, lower fare for children under the age of six years. Seats in ZIP Full-Flat Value are leather and manufactured by Japanese company Jamco and laid out at a pitch of 42 inches and a width of 20 inches. True to the name, the seats recline to 180 degrees. In Standard Value, ZIPAIR has selected Recaro seating at a
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pitch of 31 inches, a width of 17 inches and three-inch angle of recline. Standard Value offers a tablet holder in the seatback and power supply for both USB and standard plug-ins. What will not be found in either cabin is embedded inflight entertainment and seatback screens. Instead, ZIPAIR has decided to offer passengers complimentary Wi-Fi streamed into their own personal electronic devices. Not only are passengers free to enjoy entertainment, but ZIPAIR also allows them to make purchases. Light meals and amenities are currently part of the portfolio, however Nishiyama says the airline will soon be looking to increase the offering. Panasonic supplies ZIPAIR with its inflight connectivity. Paul Kent, Director of Connectivity Products at Panasonic, tells PAX Tech, airlines are relying more heavily on their IFEC component for passenger satisfaction, and ZIPAIR is one example. “Many are using this level of service as a differentiator to their competitors,” he says. Teamed with the complementary Wi-Fi from Panasonic is the Inflight Self-Ordering System supplied by Collins Aerospace. There are three main components that Collins developed for ZIPAIR Tokyo: an administrative and catering portal that is used by catering staff, a passenger portal that enables on-demand self-service during the flight, and a crew app for inventory and passenger management. Collins sees the solution as not only a handy way for the airline to interact, but a solution that could help passengers regain confidence to fly again. The Self-Ordering System minimizes the need for crew contact, and gives passengers the ability to place orders on their own devices. Payments are processed in real time to minimize risk of credit card fraud. As for any business, the first year of operation will be critical to its success. Nishiyama says that before the pandemic hit, routes to Bangkok and Incheon showed strong demand. “The key for a long-haul LCC is to improve the utilization of our aircraft,” he adds. “In addition, we will look to develop new, innovative services which are not offered by other carriers in the industry.”
ASSOCIATION NEWS
TACKLING TRAVEL’S FUTURE Starting in March, the International Air Transport Association will throw the switch to formally bring its digital travel tool into service on several airlines
Etihad Airways was one of the first carriers to sign on with IATA Travel Pass
by RICK LUNDSTROM
T
he ideas to make travel more streamlined and touchless have been around for years, but with the onset of a global pandemic, thar technology is being harnessed to merely make it possible. Starting in March, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will be monitoring the first airlines to select the IATA Travel Pass tool. When implemented fully, it will give passengers a way to keep up with COVID-19 related travel information for their destinations, plus store health certificates and access entry requirements. IATA is currently testing Travel Pass with Singapore Airlines, to be followed shortly by Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways. And, Panama-based Copa Airlines recently announced its participation.
to move forward and to open up in a meaningful way, manual processing would not work,” Careen says. “We knew we had to come up with something that would prevent large queues and manual processes to validate testing certificates.” Armed with the Travel Pass, a passenger can carry passport and vaccination information and check national requirements for destinations from their smart device. IATA will monitor any changes and work with governments to keep the information updated. It gives the passenger and the airline enough valid information to give what Careen calls an “OK to travel” designation handled from an iOS or Android phone. In the future, Careen says he would like to see airline users embed Travel Pass in their existing apps. The Association owns and operates
Timatic, a software system providing airlines with access to up-to-date immigration rules and regulations. Careen says Timatic has proven itself for validation of visa and passport requirements, so leveraging its capability for another verification process, such has health certificates, was easily adaptable. All the information is in the hands of the traveler and cannot be stored centrally which protects privacy. The concepts of touchless travel, biometrics and facial recognition for passport control was where IATA had originally planned to use the features before it was faced with a global pandemic. True to industry form, another pivot made the technology a necessity for a new travel environment. “If one industry can innovate when their backs are against the wall, it is this one,” says Careen.
Digital travel tools the way of the future
Nick Careen, the Association’s Senior Vice President of Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, is handling the roll-out. Careen is a 25-year veteran of Air Canada before joining IATA in Montreal five years ago. Early on in the pandemic, he says the Association saw a vital need for a tool like Travel Pass. “It became evident to us that [virus] testing would play a role and we began to advocate on that behalf. And in discussions with our airlines it was very evident that if this was to become a way www.pax-intl.com | PAX TECH | 17
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Health watch
In this Q&A, APEX IFSA CEO Joe Leader discusses need-toknow details of the APEX Health Safety standard
T
he Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) welcomed the new year with the announcement of the APEX Health Safety standard powered by SimpliFlying. “What’s really important is we have not yet had global standards put forward,” Joe Leader, Chief Executive Officer at APEX and the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), told PAX the week of the announcement. “That’s what we did over the past several months, and in launching with our first airlines, it really provides a great beginning platform for the safer return of travel over the course of 2021.” APEX Health Safety has been in development since September 2020. The customer-centric COVID-19 certification audit is accessible online at no cost for airlines globally. The goal is to increase customer awareness of aligned industry health safety standards, encourage more informed air travel choices, and for airlines to reach a two-percent higher rate of return than non-certified airlines. At the beginning of the pandemic, Singapore-based airline consulting firm
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by JANE HOBSON
SimpliFlying independently created a 70-point list of COVID-19 health measures. APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying covers the most relevant of these 58 touchpoints across the passenger journey, divided into 10 categories based on importance to the passenger. The audit spans categories that include testing, tracing, on-the-ground procedures, inflight measures, and co-branded partnerships that increase product safety integrity. It requires a full submission verification, validation and quarterly review certification process. The audit begins online and then advances to full verification of customer health safety standards. Audited airlines need to submit detailed proof of each measure it claims to be undertaking, which can include pictures, videos and evidence logs. This evidence is verified by the global SimpliFlying team which then awards the airline a finalized FlyQ score at the end of the audit, based on the latest quarterly FlyQ values focused on customer health safety. Airlines scoring at least 200 FlyQ points attain the Gold
Standard – a high bar for health safety. Airlines with 300 FlyQ points and above are awarded the Platinum status – for going above and beyond in their health safety measures. Airlines that attain more than 400 FlyQ points are awarded the Diamond status – providing hospitalgrade health safety for passengers. “SimpliFlying really focused on customer wellbeing and to us that really resonated with our values,” says Leader.
PARTICIPATING AIRLINES INCLUDE: Aeromexico Air Canada Alaska Airlines Delta Air Lines Etihad Airways Fiji Airways JetSmart Qatar Airways SAUDIA Singapore Airlines Spirit Airlines SriLankan Airlines Turkish Airlines United Airlines Virgin Atlantic
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