A new era is here for loyalty programs as blockchain-based partner integration comes to life. The fact that the implementation between Emirates Skywards and Careem doesn’t really need to be a blockchain solution is a big part of what makes this so special.
Main Content
PaxEx Premium: Inmarsat set to go private, change very little
Inmarsat's financial future appears secured. A consortium of investors is poised to invest $3.4bn in the company, taking it private. The price tag represents a 45% premium from the trading rate on the day prior to speculation about the deal becoming public and 27% to the price when the official offer was published. Inmarsat's Board of Directors unanimously recommends the deal and committed their respective shares to vote in favor. The investment group is operating under the name Triton Bidco and is backed by Apax Funds, Warburg Pincus Funds, the Canada Pension Plan and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
Icelandair walks away from WOW. Again.
The future outlook for Icelandic LCC upstart WOW Air is more bleak than ever. No one wants to touch the operation, it would seem.
PaxEx Premium News
PaxEx Premium: Inmarsat’s IFC revenues continue inconsistent growth
Another quarterly earnings report from Inmarsat and another bullish report on inflight connectivity revenue. The group reported IFC revenues more than doubled to $101.3m for the full year. As revenue and install count continues to grow Inmarsat is optimistic, though the underlying numbers suggest the potential remains unrealized.
PaxEx Premium: Finishing the job
When one or two executives leave a company it doesn't usually make the news. When it is a handful all at once eyebrows start to raise. After last week's news of one such shake-up in the inflight entertainment and connectivity world, however, the company's CEO says this is simply business as usual, finishing up a restructuring started in 2018.
PaxEx Premium: Viasat, Inmarsat continue the EAN legal battle
The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they press forward as Viasat continues its efforts to see Inmarsat's European Aviation Network (EAN) shuttered. The company won a ruling in Belgium that will see some of the open questions passed to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), reaching the top legal threshold and potentially putting an end to the wrangling. Alas, no one expects the answers to come quickly.
IFEC
PaxEx Premium: Inmarsat set to go private, change very little
Inmarsat's financial future appears secured. A consortium of investors is poised to invest $3.4bn in the company, taking it private. The price tag represents a 45% premium from the trading rate on the day prior to speculation about the deal becoming public and 27% to the price when the official offer was published. Inmarsat's Board of Directors unanimously recommends the deal and committed their respective shares to vote in favor. The investment group is operating under the name Triton Bidco and is backed by Apax Funds, Warburg Pincus Funds, the Canada Pension Plan and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
JetBlue’s future takes flight: Newest A320 design enters service
JetBlue’s newest A320 configuration entered service today after 10 weeks of work overhauling the interior from nose to tail. The new layout kicks of the final phase of the company’s fleet refresh, a much needed update to interiors designed 20 years ago.
Short-haul wifi pricing emerges for British Airways EAN service
Want to get online on a British Airways short-haul flight? The service is now in soft launch mode on a limited number of aircraft, with pricing and service tiers finally coming out. There is no free option, but the plans are reasonably priced for the services. For passengers happy to just text with friends and colleagues […]
MAX grounding impact across the inflight connectivity market
With the bulk of the global 737 MAX fleet grounded the impact to passengers is very real. Canceled flights, delays and rebookings will affect hundreds of thousands of travelers each day. Inflight connectivity providers will also be impacted as their systems are grounded.
Air Senegal, SITAONAIR launch GX inflight connectivity in Africa
High speed inflight wifi is now flying over Africa as Air Senegal’s A330neo enters service. The solution is powered by SITAONAIR and Inmarsat’s GX Aviation network.
Airlines, Airplanes & Airports
Icelandair walks away from WOW. Again.
The future outlook for Icelandic LCC upstart WOW Air is more bleak than ever. No one wants to touch the operation, it would seem.
Indigo walks from WOW Air
How many chances does WOW Air get to survive? Indigo Partners walked away this week, leaving significant uncertainty over the future of the carrier. Further clarity is expected by Monday.
JetBlue’s future takes flight: Newest A320 design enters service
JetBlue’s newest A320 configuration entered service today after 10 weeks of work overhauling the interior from nose to tail. The new layout kicks of the final phase of the company’s fleet refresh, a much needed update to interiors designed 20 years ago.
MAX groundings bring adjusted schedules and big questions about fix certification
No one knows how much longer the 737 MAX will remain grounded. And, perhaps more worrisome, multiple regulators are skeptical that the FAA can be trusted to approve its return to service.
Aireon space-based ADS-B data helps in driving decision on 737 MAX groundings
It took a review of additional data but Transport Canada now joins the global collection of aviation regulators that grounded the Boeing 737 MAX. That additional data came from satellite-based aircraft tracking provider Aireon, and Transport Canada is not the only regulator with the details.
Loyalty
Emirates Skywards, Loyyal bring blockchain loyalty to life
A new era is here for loyalty programs as blockchain-based partner integration comes to life. The fact that the implementation between Emirates Skywards and Careem doesn’t really need to be a blockchain solution is a big part of what makes this so special.
Evolving co-brand: AAdvantage adjusts soft benefits for cardholders
Should you buy miles at 2 cents each on a recurring basis? Probably not, but the Flight Cents program from AAdvantage and Barclays will almost certainly do brisk business.
Lyft Rewards Introduced: Some sort of loyalty??
Ride-hailing app Lyft intends to launch a new loyalty program in December 2018. Lyft Rewards will deliver benefits like ride upgrades or discounts. Probably. The announcement is spectacularly vague about how the scheme will work and even when customers can expect to participate.
Press Releases
[PR] Viasat Ka goes line-fit on Gulfstream G280 Biz Jets
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, announced today its high-speed, high-capacity Ka-band in-flight connectivity solution has been selected for the Gulfstream G280™ mid-sized business jet airframe. The Viasat in-flight connectivity system will be a line-fit option, offered directly from the Gulfstream factory for all new aircraft. It will also be available as a retrofit for in-service aircraft. The Viasat […]
[PR] Kuwait Airways breathes life into the A330-800 program with new order
Airbus has long expressed confidence that the A330-800neo would garner orders. Eventually. Today that finally happened, with Kuwait Airways selecting the type to help its fleet expansion.
[PR] Gogo DASH brings BizAv connectivity performance data down to earth
Services, services, services everywhere! Once the connection (mostly) works and signups of new customers slows the need to better support the existing installs grows. Gogo DASH helps the company continue to build out the services ecosystem that keeps customers loyal to the installed product. The more different touch points that use the installed kit, the harder it is to shift away.
[PR] Lufthansa Technick performs first 737 MAX connectivity install
Lufthansa Technik recently performed the first major connectivity modifications on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Neither LHT nor the airline will confirm the customer involved but PaxEx.Aero research suggests it is the Global Eagle kit on flyDubai’s A6-MAX frame.
[PR] Ariane 6 secures first commercial customer
Eutelsat and Arianespace signed a five launch deal this week, including use of the Ariane 6 rocket now in development. That’s a big rocket and a big deal for the two.