Tracking Snacking

This article originally appeared in The Technology Issue of APEX Experience. Preparing an aircraft for a flight takes a lot of planning, and that ranges all the way from the life-or-death issues of mechanical systems and how much fuel to take on board to the less pertinent but still important matter of how much food and beverage to stock […]

United’s On-Board Tribute to Chicago’s Most Influential Chef

US legacy carrier United Airlines just announced that they’ll be emphasizing a different kind of legacy this summer thanks to a new partnership with The Trotter Project, an organization dedicated to preserving the vision and values of the late chef Charlie Trotter, who set the bar for fine dining in the United States at his […]

Finnair Equips Crew with Samsung Tablets for Payment Processing

Don’t be surprised if you see a Finnair flight attendant approaching with a Samsung Tab 3 when you order some cologne or a bottle of champagne to take home on your next flight. The airline has deployed 360 Samsung Tab 3s throughout its fleet for flight crew to use for processing payment. The news follows the airline’s $33 million Wi-Fi investment. […]

New Opportunities in Onboard Hospitality

The first portion of the PEX Conference hospitality stream kicked off with a presentation from branding.aero‘s president and founder, Stathis Kefallonitis, PhD., who discussed sustainability as a form of onboard hospitality and marketing tool for airlines. According to Kefallonitis, “An increasing number of passengers are not just passive observers.” Ethics and sustainability are among the […]

Designing Desire in the Travel Zone

The first IFE breakout session at the Passenger Experience Conference focused on how to reach beyond basic passenger needs. David Cleaves, creative director at frog‘s Munich studio, has overseen large engagements with Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Volkswagen, Audi and more. As he introduced frog’s design tenets, he emphasized that their focus is on producing data-driven, experiential design […]

WTCE Expo Preview: Travel Zone, Catering Demos and More

The World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE), co-located with the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), is prepped to deliver some delicious treats this year in the Hamburg Messe. With more than 290 exhibitors confirmed – 65 of which are new to WTCE – one of the biggest changes in this year’s event is the move to […]

Printed Palate

This article originally appeared in The Technology Issue of APEX Experience. You’re two hours into a flight from New York to Sydney when you suddenly get a craving that just won’t quit. You stare longingly at the flight attendant, hoping that the nice juicy hamburger you’re dreaming of is on the dinner cart. With the limitations airlines face vis-à-vis […]

The New Food Cities: Building a Global Culinary Magnet – Part Two

APEX contributor Jordan Yerman explores the rise in culinary tourism in a four-part web series, released every Friday starting April 3, 2015. Look out for Part Three of the series “In-Flight Photos: Culinary Tourism Before You Land” where Yerman delves into the world of “foodstagrams” and the air traveler’s long-time fascination with airline food.  When you think “global cuisine […]

The Rise of Culinary Tourism – Part One

APEX contributor Jordan Yerman explores the rise in culinary tourism in a four-part web series, released every Friday starting April 3, 2015. Look out for Part Two of the series “The New Food Cities: Building a Global Culinary Magnet” where Yerman reveals which cities are attracting traveling foodies. Going down to the local pizza place no longer hits the […]

Smart Card

This article originally appeared in The Technology Issue of APEX Experience. In the 1930s, the airline industry developed the world’s first credit card. Within 10 years, all major 17 American airlines adopted the Air Travel Card, now known as UATP, which was later adopted worldwide. Nearly 30 years later, the airline industry created the world’s […]