APEX Editor's Blog

MONTREAL: The international association that represents the world’s commercial airports has vocalized its support for the US Transportation Security Administration’s decision to relax the ban on knives in-flight, even though the move has spurred a torrent of opposition from flight attendants’ unions and prompted some airlines to call for a reassessment. “I know it’s difficult [...]

Negotiating your way through an unfamiliar, huge and busy airport terminal can be a daunting prospect if you’re a child, a senior citizen, a large group of non-English speaking people or a celebrity. That’s where the Airport Butler comes in. A new concierge service available at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Airport Butler provides real hands on customer [...]

NEW YORK: When it comes to courting the premium class traveller, airlines compete with each other by offering cushy extras like lie-flat seats, extensive inflight entertainment and gourmet meals – sometimes even cooked by onboard chefs. Dubai-based Emirates touts a shower for its first class passengers on the Airbus A380 superjumbo. Turkish recently brought reporters [...]

NEW YORK: Trusted traveller schemes are often highlighted as a crucial element of creating more intelligent airport passenger screening programmes. But political sensitivities are creating roadblocks in the widespread use of tiered screening in one of the most important aviation markets – the European Union. In 2011 the US TSA introduced its Trusted Traveller programme [...]

LONDON: US-based aerospace technology firm Arinc plans to focus on growing the international side of its business, where the company reports increasing demand for its airline communication solutions and airport passenger processing and screening systems. During a recent press briefing in London, Arinc International VP Dave Poltorak said the company’s international division grew by a [...]

As Delta Air Lines gets closer and closer to opening its new terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, we are learning more about the features and dining options that passengers can expect. Delta is spending over $1 billion on the new terminal, which will bring the airline into the 21st century [...]

NEW YORK: Hoping to alleviate growing passenger impatience at security checkpoints, Canada is studying traffic patterns to concentrate screener resources during peak travel times in a bid to increase throughput. The majority of passengers have confidence in Canada’s security system, CATSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) senior director of screening operations Neil Perry said this week [...]

NEW YORK: US airlines presently are not feeling severe pain from government spending cuts ushered in by budget impasse negotiations between the administration of US President Barack Obama and the country’s Congress, but frustration is growing as carriers brace for operational disruptions that will trigger delays at airports in security screening and customs processing. The [...]

NEW YORK: A move by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to remove certain-sized knives and sporting goods from a long-ago instituted list of prohibited items in carry-on baggage is a small step in the right direction as the agency and the airline industry at large work towards improving nettlesome security screening processes. But a [...]

Paula Kraft’s name isn’t among the super star chefs on television’s Food Network, but perhaps it should be. This culinary pioneer is among the aviation world’s top champions for food quality, presentation, and mouth-watering taste, and she’s been doing it for more than 38 years. For the past 30 years, Kraft has built a successful [...]