As domestic travel demand rebounds in the US and international borders generally remain closed the US airlines are reshuffling their wide-body operations. Many routes that typically operated with a single-aisle aircraft in the before times are scheduled to see twin-aisle service in the coming months.
Main Content
LATAM scraps A350 fleet
LATAM never could really figure out what to do with its fleet of A350s. And now the fleet is no more. The company plans to remove the A350 from its Brazilian operations effective immediately.
Avelo Air launches with west coast focus
America’s newest operator, Avelo Airlines, is ready to fly. The carrier intends to launch service on 28 April from its home base at Burbank airport with an initial portfolio of 11 destinations.
PaxEx Premium News
Technology and Towers: SmartSky’s new CTO and the transition to operations
Getting a new ATG network into service was never going to be easy. Can new CTO David Classen push SmartSky across the finish line, addressing the tower technical challenges along the way?
De-risking IFC with OneWeb’s new JetTalk terminal
Chapter 11 is disappearing quickly from the rear view mirror. Satellite launches resumed and the constellation continues to grow. And earlier this month a new deal regarding an in-flight connectivity terminal and antenna solution helped buoy the company’s position further. To say that OneWeb is on a roll lately might be a massive understatement.
A SmartSky Senior Shuffle
The Ides of March proved challenging in the upper ranks of SmartSky’s leadership. At least two members of the company’s senior leadership team appear to be affected by the changes.
IFEC
JetBlue boosts coach experience for London service
Better meals. Better entertainment. And the same comfortable legroom you’ve come to appreciate. That is the pitch JetBlue is making to economy class passengers as it offers further details about the cabin configuration on its A321LR fleet and plans for London flights later this year.
Technology and Towers: SmartSky’s new CTO and the transition to operations
Getting a new ATG network into service was never going to be easy. Can new CTO David Classen push SmartSky across the finish line, addressing the tower technical challenges along the way?
JetBlue schedules A220 first flights
Passengers looking to fly on JetBlue’s new A220 now have a date and destination. Flight will depart from Boston later this month.
FlightPath3D tops 3,000 installs, prepares for future growth
Airlines may have slowed cabin upgrades during the pandemic, but FlightPath3D managed to emerge with a growing number of aircraft installed and high expectations for the coming year. The company believes a 30%+ increase of equipped aircraft is viable, along with some updated tech to help airlines derive ancillary revenues from the system.
GTCR boosts Gogo stake
GTCR, a leading private equity firm, will convert all of its $105.7 million principal amount of Gogo’s 6.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2022 into shares of Gogo’s common stock. The deal will see GTCR receive 19.1 million shared of Gogo stock, giving the company a 28.6% ownership stake in Gogo.
Airlines, Airplanes & Airports
Where the wide-bodies are
As domestic travel demand rebounds in the US and international borders generally remain closed the US airlines are reshuffling their wide-body operations. Many routes that typically operated with a single-aisle aircraft in the before times are scheduled to see twin-aisle service in the coming months.
LATAM scraps A350 fleet
LATAM never could really figure out what to do with its fleet of A350s. And now the fleet is no more. The company plans to remove the A350 from its Brazilian operations effective immediately.
Avelo Air launches with west coast focus
America’s newest operator, Avelo Airlines, is ready to fly. The carrier intends to launch service on 28 April from its home base at Burbank airport with an initial portfolio of 11 destinations.
Air France secures €4 billion, (maybe) cedes Orly slots
The French government likely just spent the most money ever on airport landing slots. A €4 billion deal to recapitalize the Air France-KLM group will see a token divestment of operating slots at Paris-Orly airport, assuming a competitor is keen.
Regulators squash Transat/Air Canada merger plans
Questions about the impact to competition hampered the proposed Air Canada/Transat merger from its announcement. Ultimately they killed the deal.
Seating & Cabin
Celebrating the future of aircraft interiors with the 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards winners
A look at the finalists and winners of the 14th Crystal Cabin Awards, presented today in Hamburg, makes clear that innovation remains strong in the aircraft interiors world.
Frontier’s new seats take flight
The first of 32,600 neww seats are now flying on Frontier Airlines. The company’s first A320neo with the Recaro SL3710 seats entered service on Tuesday.
Flight Report: Vistara’s domestic 787 experience
This is certainly not how Vistara expected its 787s to be flying as it launched the new fleet and expanded its global footprint. Still, the on-board experience offers several bright spots as the company adapts to the COVID-19 era of service.
Loyalty
Aeroplan extends elite status through 2022
With a quarter of the year gone recovery of the Canadian aviation sector remains a long way away. Air Canada acknowledged this, choosing to extend elite status in the company’s Aeroplan frequent flyer program another year.
Alaska Airlines giving away 25,000 flights to new MileagePlan members
Alaska Airlines wants to expand its frequent flyer base in California, and free flights are on offer. The company will give away up to 25,000 round trip flights to California residents that joins the loyalty program this week.
Air Canada, Transat merger approved, with notable conditions attached
Air Canada and Air Transat received approval from the Canadian government this week to close on their merger, though not without some additional conditions covering slots, loyalty, lounges, and Quebec employment guarantees.
PaxEx Update
The Weekly Wrap: GX+ North America and Spirit’s New Loyalty Program
In this edition of The Weekly Wrap we’re chatting with Philip Balaam, president of Inmarsat Aviation, about the company’s tie-up with Hughes to create a new in-flight connectivity solution, GX+ North America. Plus FreeSpirit, OpenIFC, and showers in the sky.
APEX Weekly Wrap: Airline CEO Shuffles and Using Data to Manage Risk Volatility
This episode of the APEX Weekly Wrap reflects on a week of senior staffing news, following announcements that both British Airways CEO Alex Cruz and Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah will step aside, and way more.
Swanky cabins for space or safety: The Weekly Wrap
Swanky space cabins and safer airline cabins lead this week’s episode, while more options for buying blocked seats are reaching the market. Add some more nutritional food on board and this Weekly Wrap is ready to fly!
Long live the Queen: The Weekly Wrap
Some 747 farewells transitioning into possible electric aircraft growth. Plus an interview about the upcoming FTE/APEX Virtual Expo and lots more!
Connections and Connectivity: The Weekly Wrap
This week we’re talking about a big new partnership connecting passengers JetBlue and American Airlines, as well as how Middle East Airlines will be getting connected with Panasonic Avionics.