AIX Goes Virtual For 2021 | IFPL Receives Queen’s Award For Innovation | News From Boeing | Other News
Postponed: AIX 2021 Live Events – Virtual Event Scheduled
AIX was scheduled to take place in Hamburg, Germany on August 31 through September 2, 2021. But now, Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) and Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) all have been postponed due to travel uncertainties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. The physical events have been rescheduled for June 14-16, 2022 at the Hamburg Messe.
The good news is the 2021 event has become a virtual event and will take place on 14-16 September.
The organizers say they know how much people want to get back to meeting in person but the global situation remains too unpredictable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the continued challenges and global restrictions on international travel faced by the global aviation sector.
The organizers believe that the virtual format for AIX 2021 will offer a platform where industry professionals can connect and share ideas to support the recovery and growth of the cabin interiors and onboard services community. We anticipate details to be released in the near term about the virtual event.
IFPL Awarded a Third Queen’s Award for Enterprise
IFPL is a winner of the 2021 Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation. This is the third time the specialist aerospace design and manufacturing company will be presented with one of the most prestigious business awards in the country.
IFPL has been recognized for its excellence in the field of innovation. The team are also twice winners in the category of ‘International Trade’, having received the award in 2008 and 2014.
The Queens Awards for Enterprise celebrate the success of exciting and innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products and services. This year, 205 business were recognized nationally for their contributions to ‘International Trade’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Sustainable Development’, and ‘Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility)’.
IFPL has been honored in the ‘Innovation’ category for their design of a contactless payment and personalization device for use in commercial passenger aircraft. The device can be installed as an addition to seatback inflight entertainment systems, and solves the problems of its predecessors’ poor reliability, expensive production costs, and vulnerability to fraud.
IFPL was established in 1996 and is headquartered on the Isle of Wight. The team specializes in the design and manufacture of passenger interface solutions, supplying products to the global in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) industry.
IFPL founder and CEO Geoff Underwood commented:
“The aviation sector has been through a tough period recently, so being recognized as a company that is consistently working hard to create innovative products that will help operators to recover post-pandemic is a real boost. I’m so proud of the whole IFPL family for this fantastic achievement.”
Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses personally approved by Her Majesty the Queen. First established in 1965, over 7000 companies have since received an award, with many successfully using the momentum from their achievement to secure new business and venture into new markets.
Boeing
Boeing and the Lufthansa Group announced the airline group will continue its fleet modernization with a new order for five 787-9 Dreamliners. The incremental order further supports the group’s efforts to reduce complexity in its long-haul fleet and improve overall environmental performance by introducing more fuel-efficient widebody jets.
“We are very pleased that five more Boeing 787-9s will accelerate the modernization of our long-haul fleet. With these ultra-modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, we send a strong signal for environmental responsibility within the Lufthansa Group. Furthermore we will reduce our operating costs and provide our guests a state-of-the-art travel experience,” said Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Chief Operations Officer.
The Lufthansa Group placed its initial order for 20 787-9s in 2019. The new purchase agreement takes the group’s order book to 25 787-9s.
The second member of the Dreamliner widebody family, the 787-9 can fly up to 20% more passengers and around 25% more cargo while reducing fuel use and emissions by up to 25% compared to the airplanes it replaces. Since entering service in 2011, the 787 family’s fuel efficiency, flexibility and range have enabled airlines to open more than 300 new nonstop routes and reduce carbon emissions by 80 billion pounds.
Built with lightweight composite materials and powered by advanced engines and a suite of environment-friendly technologies, the 787 family has an airport-noise footprint that is 60% smaller than the previous generation of 767 airplanes, making it ideal for Lufthansa Group airport communities.
“The Lufthansa Group has been navigating an extremely challenging market and positioning itself for the recovery ahead and the eventual return to growth. We are honored that they have once again selected Boeing’s widebody airplane family to power their future fleet,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing. “The 787’s superior fuel efficiency and range provide the Lufthansa Group the flexibility to profitably operate the airplane across its route network.”
Also From Boeing:
Boeing announced a $10 million emergency assistance package for India to support the country’s response to the current surge in COVID-19 cases. The assistance from Boeing will be directed to organizations providing relief, including medical supplies and emergency healthcare for communities and families battling COVID-19. The Boeing team in India totals 3,000 employees, in addition to valued local customers, suppliers, and business partners. Boeing will partner with local and international relief organizations to deploy the $10 million to the areas of greatest need in consultation with medical, government and public health experts.
Boeing employees also have an opportunity to donate personally to charitable organizations supporting COVID-19 relief in India. As part of the Boeing Gift Match program, the company will match monetary donations dollar for dollar, extending the reach of assistance being provided to the Indian people.
And More News…
Boeing and Silk Way West Airlines announced the private cargo operator will expand its international network with an order for five 777 Freighters. The deal marks the first purchase of the long-range, high capacity twin-engine freighter in the Caspian region and Central Asia. The airplanes will enable the airline to increase its capacity to meet growing cargo demand around the globe. Silk Way West Airlines and Boeing leaders announced the agreement during a signing ceremony in Baku that included Akhundov; Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan; and Earle D. Litzenberger, U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, as well as Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 777 Freighter is the world’s largest, longest range and most capable twin-engine freighter. The airplane’s better fuel efficiency and ability to reduce CO2 emissions by 17% compared to legacy airplanes will contribute to the carrier’s sustainability goals. With a range of 9,200 kilometers, the 777 Freighter can carry a maximum payload of 102,000 kilograms, allowing Silk Way West Airlines to make fewer stops and reduce landing fees on long-haul routes.
Designed to integrate smoothly with existing cargo operations, the 777 Freighter will provide Silk Way West Airlines operational flexibility with five 747-8 Freighters and seven 747-400 Freighters the carrier currently operates. The 747 and 777 freighters are capable of carrying tall and outsized cargo loads on 3-meter-tall pallets. This common main-deck pallet height capability enables interchangeable pallets. Additionally, the 777 Freighter main deck side cargo door is 3.72 meters wide, giving the freighter outsized carriage capability beyond tall payloads.
The 777 Freighter is Boeing’s top-selling freighter of all time. Customers from around the world have ordered 247 777 Freighters since the program began in 2005. The market leader in air cargo aircraft, Boeing provides more than 90% of the worldwide dedicated freighter capacity, including new production and converted aircraft.
Founded in 2012 in Baku, Silk Way West Airlines is the largest cargo airline in the Caspian Sea region with an annual cargo turnover of 350,000 tons. Based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, the airline operates approximately 350 monthly scheduled flights to 40 destinations around the world.
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In-flight entertainment and related technologies, such as onboard Internet access, are critically important to the passengers I speak with every day. An authoritative resource about the latest developments in the in-flight entertainment industry will lead to better products and happier customers.”