As anticipated, the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) on April 9, and the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) on April 10 thru 12 were the IFEC big deals last week. Each year we attempt to give readers a bit of an oversight about this week dedicated to the aircraft cabin and all things IFEC. This year was not different and for this week and next week, IFExpress will cover the show summary put out by the folks who organize this incredible extravaganza in Hamburg Germany each year. In today’s issue, we cover PEC (April 9) and Day 1 of AIX (April 10)  – next week we will send out the summary of Day 2 and 3 of the Expo. Here we go! 

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PASSENGER EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE

Monday April 9,  2018 – Passenger Experience Conference (PEC), the industry-leading global conference and networking forum, returned to the Hamburg Messe, marking the start of the world-renowned Passenger Experience Week (PEW). Exhibition Director, Polly Magraw kicked-off the day with a welcome to delegates attending the Conference, which defines the passenger experience. Following this, Richard Chung, Vice President Innovation & Design at Adient  took to the stage to discuss the exponential changes that are emerging and converging to create new opportunities for the aviation industry (see image above).

One such change, is the future introduction of commercial space flight at Virgin Galactic’s facility in New Mexico. Adam Wells, Head of Design, talked delegates through every stage of the process of the journey of a spacecraft, including a video of a recent test flight where the spaceship reached 82,000 feet.

Closing the plenary sessions, Paul Priestman, Director and Chairman of Priestman Goode, discussed how convergence of existing technologies, including magnetic levitation, can facilitate new forms of transport such as the Hyperloop.

For the rest of the Conference, PEC delegates could choose sessions from three streams: Convergence and Mobility, Personalizing the Journey and Flexible and Sustainable Thinking.

Convergence and Mobility:

• From seamless urban mobility to the on-demand economy, this stream explored how cross-pollination between transport modes can enrich the passenger experience and create business opportunities.
  • Arguing that millennials prioritize access over ownership, Jönna Pöllanen of MaaS Global introduced their new multi-modal transport planning and booking platform, ‘Whim’.
  • Sustainable materials were the focus of conversation between José Rui Marcelino of Almadesign, Joel Fragata of TAP Air Portugal and Luciana Ribeiro Monteiro of Embraer, while the Head of Partnerships & Advertising and Head of Product & Customer Experience at Joon told attendees about their new products and services being tested by Air France-KLM.

Personalizing the Journey:

• This stream explored how connectivity and data-driven technologies can improve the passenger experience and enable deeper relationships between an airline and its service partners.
  • Nathaniel Giraitis of design company SmartDesign told attendees about Kite, a newly-conceived digital travel companion that could provide nervous flyers with personalized coping techniques.
  • Representatives from gategroup and Black Swan Data shared their insights on how artificial intelligence and data collection can revolutionize inflight food, while seamlessness and the harmonization of software and content were the focal points of discussions between speakers from Panasonic Avionics, Cathay Pacific, Gogo, Valour Consultancy and Spafax.

Flexible and Sustainable Thinking:

• Examining how flexibility can be designed into products to afford more options for airlines and rail operators, this stream asks the question about the role sustainability plays in this equation.
  • Christina Fagin, Industrial Designer and Circular Economy Expert at Grüner Hering, emphasized the importance of ensuring that products have a full life-cycle and that environmental disposal is considered in the design phase in her key-note speech.
  • Later speakers from Boeing, Recaro, Zodiac Aerospace were among those who discussed the ways in which modularity and open platforms can support a more flexible approach to cabin design and services.

Polly Magraw, Event Director of Passenger Experience Conference, comments: “This year’s agenda offered delegates an insight into the future of transport and the technologies that are driving change for passengers. Our fantastic plenary speakers transported the audience through space, supersonic and electric air travel – a range of possibilities that now feel closer than ever before.”

“The breakout format of the conference let delegates explore the issues that are driving change in their industry and revolutionizing the passenger experience. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who continues to make the Passenger Experience Conference the huge success it is today.”

The PEC is the launch event for Passenger Experience Week – which comprises four leading events in one destination: the Passenger Experience Conference, the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) and, new for 2018, Passenger Technology Solutions.

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AIX DAY ONE – NEWS ROUND-UP

Tuesday, April 10 2018 – Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), the world’s largest event dedicated to innovation in the in-flight passenger experience, kicked-off as world leaders in cabin interiors, in-flight entertainment and passenger comfort gathered in Hamburg to showcase their latest products and developments.

Every year, exhibitors choose AIX to announce new products and deals, and 2018 got off to an impressive start with news from organizations including:

• Airbus announced the development of a new option for A380 aircraft, ‘A380 Cabin-Flex’. The enhancement, which consists of a new cabin door area arrangement on the upper-deck, is available for line-fit and retrofit, and will be installed on Qantas’ current A380 fleet from mid 2019.
• Thales announced the expansion of its inflight entertainment portfolio with CORE and PRESTIGE, offering a full spectrum of solutions and services to maximize passenger satisfaction, loyalty and airline revenue.
• Immfly announced a new partnership with Pegasus Air, to bring a dynamic in-flight digital services platform to the Turkish Market.
• Panasonic Avionics announced the debut of their new airline on-board loyalty platform, called NEXT Loyalty, with Singapore Airlines as launch customer, as well as a partnership with gategroup on their new retail platform NEXT Marketplace, and an IFEC commitment from Turkish Airlines for 50 wide-bodied aircraft.
• Gogo announced that Air Canada has extended its agreement to install the provider’s 2Ku in-flight connectivity service on its Bombardier CSeries CS300 fleet, with the system to be line-fit during assembly.
• Global Eagle Entertainment has launched the Airconnect Go video-on-demand system portable IFE system for regional aircraft, which streams content to passengers’ own devices through Global Eagle’s Airtime portal.
• Geven’s Essenza economy-class seat has been ordered by Wizz Air for the Airbus A321neos it will begin receiving in January 2019.
• Acro is to supply its Series 3 ST seat to Viva Air for the airline’s 50 Airbus A320 aircraft on order.

Delegates to AIX were also able to enjoy the first day of a series of educational sessions in the Flight Global Cabin Space Live Seminar Theater.

Consolidation and the interiors supply chain: Panelists discussed how consolidation among the cabin supply chain could provide an opportunity for agile new suppliers to enter the market, as well as the demand on suppliers to boost production while reorganizing supply chains.

The future of IFE: The panel of airlines and technology providers discussed the need for airlines to have the flexibility to provide choice to the passenger, with platforms that adapt to meet the fast pace of technology development. The need for robust and stable connections for streaming in the air to meet passenger demand is critical, with embedded IFE, wireless IFE and connectivity all being part of the future mix.

Flight Ascend Market Outlook Briefing: This briefing assessed where the industry is in the demand cycle. It examined whether Airbus and Boeing are on track to hit their ambitious production-rate targets and what the prospects are for new market entrants such as the C-Series, C919 and MC-21, and new product studies such as the Boeing NMA.

AIX’s Exhibition Director, Polly Magraw, comments: “AIX 2018 has launched with a busy and exciting day. It has been inspiring to see all the amazing innovations our exhibitors are showcasing and how they are bringing to life some of the key themes around the passenger experience we heard about in Monday’s Passenger Experience Conference.

Aircraft Interiors Expo is co-located with World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) and, new for 2018, Passenger Technology Solutions (PTS). Along with the Passenger Experience Conference the three expos make up Passenger Experience Week.

For further information please follow this link to Aircraft Interiors Expo

• World’s largest airline to more than double its Dreamliner fleet with 47 firm orders and 28 options
• Order is valued at $12 billion; includes 787-8 and 787-9 models
• American cites 787 family’s performance, commonality, market success for repeat order

Seattle, WA | April 6, 2018– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and American Airlines today announced the world’s largest airline will more than double its 787 Dreamliner fleet with a new order for 47 of the super-efficient airplane plus 28 options. The 47 787s are valued at more than $12 billion at list prices and makes American Airlines the largest 787 customer in the Western Hemisphere.

“We are extremely honored that American Airlines, is deepening its commitment to the 787 Dreamliner. This new order is a powerful endorsement of the 787 family’s unique passenger appeal and unmatched ability to help airlines open new routes and grow profitably,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister.

Built with lightweight composite materials and powered by advanced engines, the Dreamliner family lowers operating costs by more than 20 percent compared to previous airplanes, and nearly 10 percent compared to today’s competing jets.

American becomes the latest airline to place a repeat order for the 787 Dreamliner. More than half of the program’s 71 customers have done so, which has helped the 787 program achieve more than 1,350 orders to date.

“We are showing again and again that the 787 Dreamliner is the champion in its class. The airplane’s tremendous value proposition explains why it has become the fastest selling twin-aisle jet in history,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company. “And when we match the Dreamliner with Boeing’s suite of services, it is a combination that delivers unbeatable value for our customers.”

Boeing’s Global Services division provides American Airlines with efficiency tools such as Airplane Health Management and Toolbox, which help the airline improve operational performance and improve dispatch reliability.

The 787-8 Dreamliner can fly 242 passengers up to 7,355 nautical miles (13,620 km) in a typical two-class configuration. The 787-9, a stretch of the 787-8, can fly 290 passengers up to 7,635 nautical miles.

About Boeing and American Airlines’ history

The relationship between Boeing and American Airlines spans over 80 years. Some of the key shared milestones include:

• June 1936: American becomes the first to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service
• January 1959: American uses the Boeing 707 to offer the first coast-to-coast jet service
• March 1961: American is the first in-service with the Boeing 720B
• July 1971: The first DC-10 delivery goes to American
• May 2015: American flies its first revenue flight with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Spafax IQ Data Analytics Platform provides airlines with one view of their passenger engagement across all IFEC systems – an industry first.

London, UK | April 9, 2018– Global entertainment and media agency Spafax today announced the launch of Spafax IQ, a service designed to help airlines optimize their investment in entertainment across the passenger journey.

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 10, 2018– STG Aerospace is delighted to simultaneously announce the launch of the latest version of their liTeMood® LED lighting system for Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft, along with the first 2 launch customers – Small Planet Airlines and XL Airways France who will upgrade their A320/A321 and A330 fleets later this month respectively.

The dynamic and configurable full colour, plug-and-play, programmable retrofit lighting solution sets the scene in an instant and can be customised to any scene or scenario, helping create a unique experience that passengers won’t want to forget.

Marcus Williams, Director of Global Sales at STG Aerospace, highlighted: “Our liTeMood® retrofit LED system has revolutionised the way airlines with Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft can accomplish a LED lighting upgrade since 2014.  We are now delighted to announce the availability of our next-generation system for the Airbus A320FAM, A330 and A340 fleets along with the first 2 of our launch customers, and for the first time offering a full colour, fully programmable solution.”

An extension of the proven feel and performance of STG Aerospace’s liTeMood®, the unique Airbus system offers fully customisable, animated scenes that can change post installation in just minutes via a patented infrared wand. As well as the choice of selection from over 16 million colours, the system offers the ability to incorporate bespoke scenes, from northern lights to sunrise and sunsets to more unique settings to celebrate national holidays.

Mr Kristijonas Kaikaris, the CEO of Small Planet Airlines, commented: “As an airline we strive to offer a world of infinite possibilities and improvements. By installing this system on our A320 aircraft it will assist us in our mission of delivering that world and help us personalise the way we interact with our passengers.”

Mr Fachinetti, Vice-President of Maintenance and Engineering at XL Airways France, added: “The latest innovation from liTeMood® allows us to create individual mood lighting scenarios to foster well-being for passengers through every phase of the flight, we’re delighted to be one of the first customers to offer this major enhancement to the passenger experience.”

Available for retrofit on single and twin aisle Airbus aircraft, the cost-effective power saving system works with both classic and enhanced CIDS, installed in under 6 hours (A320) and requires no changes to aircraft wiring or control systems.

New SITA kiosks to speed passenger processing at airports while boosting national security

Mexico | April 10, 2018– The Federal Government of Mexico is strengthening border control by automating the entry process with the introduction of SITA’s Automated Border Control kiosks. The new kiosks will use biometric technology to capture fingerprints to verify passengers’ identities and improve national security.

SITA has rolled out 100 kiosks across three major airports. These international airports, in Mexico City, Cancun and Los Cabos, are operated by three airport companies – Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México (AICM), Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) and Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP). SITA is the systems integrator across the project delivering to the needs of all the Mexican authorities and the private enterprises in the various locations.

Enrique De la Madrid, Secretary General, SECTUR, the Mexican Ministry of Tourism, said: “As visitor numbers at international airports grow, the need for migration agents grows as well, but we have the technology to help us overcoming that challenge. This automation will ensure security and facilitate the arrival of visitors to the country.”

Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, Secretary General, SCT, the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation, said: “The installation of these kiosks represents another example of the implementation of state-of-the-art technology in Mexico, aimed at preserving the safety of people and their goods, as well as facilitating activities related to aviation. Automating the entry of domestic and foreign passengers who do not require a visa is achieved by capturing biometric data (fingerprints, photography and scanning of the passport), which quadruples the capacity of passenger attention for each migration agent.”

Elbson Quadros, SITA Vice President, Latin America, said: “This is an exciting development in Mexico. The country is well known for its tourism and our automated border control kiosks will improve the experience for passengers at these key airports. As with most border management operations, making this improvement involves many government agencies working together with various airport operators. SITA is the integrator working with all parties, drawing on our decades of border automation experience with more than 40 governments worldwide, to deliver a secure and seamless passenger journey in Mexico.”

Initially, the SITA automated border control kiosks will be used to securely identify passengers as they enter the country. In time, they will facilitate the full admission process for Mexican citizens and those non-citizens who do not require a visa for entry. Arriving passengers will use the kiosks to provide standard travel information to the authorities, place their hand to be scanned for fingerprints and then once their identity is verified against the INM (National Institute of Immigration) database they will be given the all clear to enter the country.

Automating the entry process will help speed up passenger processing while maintaining high levels of security. SITA border technology enables governments to clear large numbers of passengers in record time. Travelers from up to five SITA iBorders^® BorderAutomation ABCKiosks can be managed from just one immigration counter and these kiosks have been shown to reduce the time passengers spend in line by as much as 40%.

Gerardo Garcia, Commissioner to INM, the National Institute of Immigration, said: “Automation increases security and efficiency. Increased numbers of low-risk passengers are processed quickly, conveniently, and cost-effectively while we maintain the security and integrity of our border.By automating the arrival process using SITA’s world-class biometric kiosks, we will improve the speed and accuracy of checks of passengers arriving in Mexico.”

The full rollout across Mexico City, Cancun and Los Cabos International airports is now complete and the 100 SITA kiosks are expected to securely process close to eight million arrivals in the first year.

 

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 11, 2018– STG Aerospace is delighted to announce that it has been selected as the supplier for the photoluminescent emergency floor path marking system across Alaska Airlines’ Boeing and Airbus fleets, as the airline begins to streamline the cabins of its Virgin America fleet.

Alaska Airlines will install STG Aerospace’s next-generation saf-Tglo® SSUL photoluminescent emergency escape path marking system (EEPMS) on 116 aircraft across its retrofitted and new Boeing 737-700, MAX9 and Airbus A320 Family fleets – making it one of the largest multi-platform programmes ever awarded.

The retrofit programme, which is due to commence in late 2018, will see Alaska Airlines upgrade the photoluminescent EEPMS system in their Boeing and Airbus fleets to the latest saf-Tglo® SSUL design, which is the lightest, narrowest and most discrete photoluminescent solution available. Alaska Airlines will also replace the electrical emergency lighting system in the Airbus fleet, a change expected to realise significant operational cost savings due to the high reliability and fail-safe nature of saf-Tglo®.

Commenting on the recent contract award, Warren Hamilton, Director of Cabin Products and Interiors at Alaska Airlines, said: “STG Aerospace has been an exceptional supplier over many years, and their saf-Tglo® system has a proven track record of both robustness and reliability. This made the decision to integrate the system as part of the retrofit programme a natural one. Aesthetically, the system will assist us in unifying cabin appearance across the new combined Boeing and Airbus fleets, but more importantly it will assist us in keeping our guests and crew safe when they’re in our care.”

Marcus Williams, Director of Global Sales at STG Aerospace added: “We are always delighted when a long term customer chooses us for their latest cabin upgrade programme, as it means we are doing something right. In this case it is even more special because Alaska Airlines has trusted us to be part of their new brand following the integration of the Virgin America fleet. We are looking forward to beginning the installations next year and upgrading the entire fleet with our latest next-generation photoluminescent system.”

saf-Tglo® is available in 300 daytime colour options, and two glow colours, enabling airlines to align their corporate branding without compromising safety. Installed on 11,000 aircraft world-wide, saf-Tglo® is the highest performing and most discrete photoluminescent floor path marking system available on the market.

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 11, 2018– Turkish Technic and HAVELSAN have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Inmarsat on development of integrated inflight connectivity and entertainment solutions.

As part of the collaboration, the three companies will offer a joint solution for emerging markets, which integrates Inmarsat’s award-winning GX Aviation inflight broadband solution with the Turkish Technic-HAVELSAN inflight entertainment system.

Ahmet Karaman, CEO of Turkish Technic, said: “The Turkish aviation market is the centre of growth in this region. We continue to make major strides in fulfilling the product and maintenance requirements of operators with high-end solutions. Our inflight entertainment system developed with HAVELSAN, provides a seamless travel experience and will become even more desirable to operators with the addition of Inmarsat inflight connectivity.”

Ahmet Hamdi Atalay, CEO of HAVELSAN, said: ”Turkish Technic and HAVELSAN’s inflight entertainment system will gain increased synergy and power through our collaboration with Inmarsat. From serving the fastest growing aviation market of the world, in Turkey, the system is now a global product.”

Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “This region is home to one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world and offers significant opportunities for inflight connectivity and entertainment providers. We look forward to joining hands with two of Turkey’s leading companies in this field, Turkish Technic and HAVELSAN, to provide airlines with a truly world-class integrated offering that combines our key strengths.”

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 12, 2018– In response to a request from its long-standing client Icelandair, STG Aerospace has designed, developed and patented a powerful and simple saf-Tsign® product, introduced to upgrade dated Passenger Service Units (PSU), complete with a switchable Wi-Fi sign.

As one of the first airlines to roll-out high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity across its entire fleet of aircraft, Icelandair turned to STG Aerospace to effectively communicate this major enhancement in the passenger experience on its fleet of Boeing 757 aircraft.

Through a powerful combination of photoluminescent and LED technology, the new PSU lens removes the need to backlight the No Smoking icon by moving it to a central position and illuminating the command with blue glowing photoluminescence, ensuring the sign is always visible even in low light and dark conditions.

Creating a switchable display on the left, now converted to LED, the No Smoking icon has been changed to a Wi-Fi icon, allowing airlines to manage the availability of the service and advertising to passengers that Wi-Fi is available on-board.

Dr Sean O’Kell, Director of Innovation at STG Aerospace, commented:

“When Icelandair approached us, we were only too pleased to respond. By applying our commitment to innovation and our expertise in both photoluminescent and LED technologies, we were able to rapidly develop an elegant solution and, using our in-house facilities, bring a new product to market in a remarkably short space of time.”

Sigurður Ingi Ljótsson, Industrial Designer at Icelandair, said: “Our long-standing relationship with STG Aerospace made them a first choice for this PSU upgrade project. By changing the switched no-smoking symbol for a Wi-Fi available one, we can let passengers know in the day or night that Wi-Fi connectivity is available on our planes.

In addition to the practical and aesthetic benefits, the new patented PSU lens is a lighter, simpler, retrofit solution that can be customised to provide effective on-brand messaging to all passengers on-board. To complete the modernisation process, STG Aerospace offers direct, filtered white LED’s to illuminate the sign and its latest square beam reading light.

One additional aircraft to increase efficiency with lower carbon footprint

Toulouse, France | April 12, 2018– SAS selected the A330-300 to further standardize its long-haul fleet. One new A330-300 equipped with RR Trent 772B engines will join the Scandinavian carrier’s network in the second Quarter 2019. SAS has been an Airbus customer since 1980 with an Airbus fleet of 57 aircraft (eight A340s, eight A330s and 41 A320 Family aircraft) to date.

“We are thankful that SAS has selected the Airbus Family for the second time this week. This further commitment by SAS to the A330 demonstrates the unmatched operating economics and operational versatility of this aircraft,” said Eric Schulz, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “We are delighted to be continuing our long-standing partnership with SAS.”

The A330 is one of the world’s most efficient and versatile widebody aircraft with best in class economics making it the benchmark for the growing low cost long-haul operations business model worldwide. To date the A330 Family has attracted over 1,700 orders, making it the world’s best-selling wide-body aircraft in its category. More than 1,350 A330 Family aircraft are currently flying today with more than 110 operators worldwide. With an operational reliability of 99.4 percent and various product enhancements, the A330 Family is the most cost-efficient and capable widebody aircraft to date.

Wan Chai, Hong Kong | 16 April 2018– Satcom Direct (SD), the business aviation connectivity, software and hardware provider,celebrated the opening of its new Asia Pacific office on 10^th April, accompanied by dancing dragons, traditional Hong Kong fare, and an elite gathering of Asian business jet operators. Situated in the heart of bustling Wan Chai, the expanded Hong Kong home of SD gives the growing customer base easier access to the business as it moves from its Hong Kong airport airside location, to the core of the city’s commercial district.

The state-of-the art premises incorporates high-tech offices, meeting rooms, and a spacious workspace to demonstrate the ever-expanding range of SD services. The contemporary space reflects the innovative nature of the SD culture, and doubles-up as a venue for holding company events and customer training.

The relocation to larger office space is a response to SD’s significant growth in the region which is being driven by the development of the Asia Pacific business aviation market, and in particular the growth of the Chinese business aviation sector.  SD’s diverse customer base includes business jet management companies, operators, government, private owners, and corporate flight departments maximising the reliable, customized connectivity services SD designs and delivers.

The new location brings the SD APAC team closer to its customers, facilitating enhanced customer support. “We know clients in Asia embrace the latest technology which is why we wanted to establish an even stronger base to deliver the superior customer support for which we are recognised,” says Chris Moore, CCO, SD.

This includes support for the increasing number of customers in the region installing Jet ConneX, the ultra-high-speed data transfer service. “We were one of the first companies to prove the Ka-band technology for business aviation, and now supply the highest percentage of tails using the service worldwide. We’ve used this experience to create industry-first dedicated Service Level Agreements (SLA), to support our customers’ experience,” adds Moore. The SLAs include onsite support, proactive monitoring, outage notifications and guaranteed email and phone call response times.

The office is manned by the existing seven-strong SD team, but it is anticipated the team will more than double over the next three years as new sales, technical and support roles are filled. “We are genuinely committed to this region and deem our presence essential to maintain customer service levels, manage efficient operations and keep our competitive edge,” says Moore.

The success of SD’s existing customer support in the region was underscored when the business won Best Operational Support Award at the AsBAA Icons of Aviation Awards for 2017. “The award is testament to the team’s diligence here in the region, and our new office provides great foundations for them to continue to excel,” concludes Moore.The SD team will be meeting and greeting new, and existing customers, at ABACE 2018, 17-19 April, Booth H1214.

Aircraft Interiors EXPO Hamburg, Germany | April 11, 2018– The world’s largest international carrier, Emirates, has surpassed a staggering one million Wi-Fi sessions in March, powered by SITAONAIR’s connected aircraft expertize. It represents a major moment for inflight connectivity (IFC), highlighting passengers’ demand for services that enable them to seamlessly maintain their digital lives, by streaming, chatting, enjoying social media, shopping and surfing, as they fly.

Passengers travelling with Emirates consumed 1,037,016 SITAONAIR Internet ONAIR sessions between 1 and 31 March 2018, across its B777-300ER and A380 aircraft fleet.

Hamburg, Germany | April 16, 2018–Primera Air, a low-fare Nordic airline, has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo at an  event in Hamburg in presence of Andri Már Ingólfsson, CEO and President of Primera Travel Group and Kimon Sotiropoulos, Vice President Sales Northern and Central Europe  from Airbus. The aircraft which was assembled in Hamburg is the first of three A321neos to be leased from GECAS in 2018. PrimeraAir will also lease a further five A321neos from other lessors, including two A321LRs, growing its fleet to eight aircraft in 2018.

The aircraft, powered by CFM Leap-1A engines features a two class layout with 16 premium and 182 economy seats. The aircraft was selected by Primera Air for its outstanding operational efficiency, comfort and range. The aircraft will be deployed in the United Kingdom and France on transatlantic destinations to North- America.

The A321 is the largest member of the A320 Family, seating up to 240 passengers, depending on cabin configuration. Incorporating the latest engines, aerodynamic advances and cabin innovations, the A321neo offers a reduction in fuel consumption of at least 15 per cent per seat from day one and 20 per cent by 2020.

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg | April 12, 2018– SITAONAIR has been appointed as connected aircraft service consultant and technology supplier to Taqnia Space, leveraging its significant inflight connectivity (IFC) expertize, to enable the Saudi company to bring its UON offer to airlines.

In this new role and way of working, SITAONAIR is supporting the development of Taqnia Space’s-own unique UON solutions line, by drawing on SITAONAIR’s leading inflight internet and mobile connectivity technologies. Going forward, SITAONAIR will be responsible for supporting the ongoing management of services and infrastructure involved in the delivery of Taqnia Space’s UON solutions. Taqnia Space will deploy its UON services across both Ku- and Ka-band High-throughput Satellite connectivity.

As consultant – and the world’s primary provider of inflight mobile connectivity – a key aspect of SITAONAIR’s appointment is guiding the development of Taqnia Space’s 3.5G inflight mobile service for passengers. SITAONAIR recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Mobile ONAIR service, and Taqnia Space is harnessing SITAONAIR’s proven, pioneering approach in this field. For Taqnia Space’s internet solution, meanwhile, SITAONAIR will expertly integrate live TV as a specific UON portal feature.

David Lavorel, Chief Executive Officer, SITAONAIR, says: “We are thrilled to have been selected by Taqnia Space for our considerable connected aircraft expertize, advising this new company to develop its defined UON inflight connectivity solutions for airlines. With us, Taqnia Space has been able to advance its innovations in the most efficient and effective way possible.

“This project reinforces SITAONAIR’s openness to new technologies and consortiums that advance airline industry choice, and our sheer versatility, skill and expertize in being able to deliver new, bespoke services across different platforms and hardware, and operate them on behalf of a partner. I am proud that our company is adding yet another string to its bow as a recognized connected aircraft expert. It complements SITAONAIR’s own and branded, best-in-class, Internet ONAIR, Mobile ONAIR, Link ONAIR and CrewTab inflight connectivity services for passengers and crew, with which our prestigious airline customers are already leading the charge for a modern, world-class passenger experience.”

To discover SITAONAIR’s end-to-end connected aircraft proposition, speak to your local SITAONAIR contact,submit an enquiry form or explore www.sitaonair.aero.

Boeing and SIAEC also finalize agreements for BAPAS to enter full operations

Orlando, Florida | April 11, 2018– Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced that on March 7, 2018, two previously signed integrated Boeing Global Fleet Care agreements for Singapore Airlines’ fleet of 27 777-300ERs (Extended Range) and Scoot’s fleet of 20 787 Dreamliners were transferred to Boeing Asia Pacific Aviation Services Pte. Ltd., (BAPAS), a joint venture between The Boeing Company and SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC).

“Boeing’s partnership with SIAEC will create more efficient and customer-focused service solutions by combining our resources and intimate understanding of airframe lifecycle with knowledge of current and emerging requirements in the Asia Pacific region,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO, Boeing Global Services.

Under the integrated Global Fleet Care agreements, BAPAS will provide engineering services, maintenance planning and scheduling, and operation control center services, along with materials demand planning and spares support for the airlines. BAPAS also will tailor maintenance and reliability programs and provide support for aircraft modifications. Following these agreements, BAPAS is anticipated to support more than 70 Boeing aircraft within the Singapore Airlines Group.

Boeing and SIAEC also confirmed the completion of the agreements and processes necessary to fully enable the BAPAS joint venture. BAPAS will continue offering industry-leading engineering, materials management and fleet maintenance support solutions for Boeing 737, 747, 777 and 787 aircraft to airline customers in the Asia Pacific region.

About Boeing Asia Pacific Aviation Services Pte. Ltd.

Boeing Asia Pacific Aviation Services Pte. Ltd. (BAPAS) is a joint venture that combines Boeing engineering knowledge of the 737, 747, 777 and 787 aircraft with SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) maintenance, repair and overhaul expertise. BAPAS offers a total fleet maintenance solution that incorporates a suite of knowledge based maintenance services. These one-stop services include Fleet Engineering Services, Fleet Material Services and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, specifically formulated to cover airline customer needs from entry into service to ongoing operations to the decommission or sale of an aircraft.