It has been intimated and implied for roughly two years. Now it is confirmed. Delta Air Lines expects Viasat’s inflight internet service to be active across its entire fleet by the end of next year.
Main Content
More drama for the Jet It connectivity plans
Last week fractional jet operator Jet It announced plans to install Gogo’s AVANCE L3 inflight internet offering on board, upgrading and expanding the service available to its customers. Which was particularly surprising given that the company made a similar announcement with SmartSKy nine months prior.
Gogo’s 5G chips move to manufacturing
Last August Gogo announced a delay in its Gogo 5G network activation, owing to issues in development of the chipset for its on-board modem. Today the company confirms that those issues are resolved.
PaxEx Premium News
Does ATG have a future in commercial aviation?
Cellular-based air-to-ground technologies brought inflight internet to thousands of aircraft and millions of passengers, first in North America, then in Europe and beyond. And while the technology continues to grow in some markets, some suppliers are more skeptical of its continued value, at least for commercial airlines.
Gogo signs Jet It for AVANCE L3 deployment
Fractional aircraft operator Jet It will install Gogo’s AVANCE L3 solution across its fleet of light jets. The inflight internet service will fly on Jet It’s HondaJets and Gulfstream G150s, as well as new Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft joining the fleet.
Another Stellar IFC experience flying
As OneWeb moves to deliver its near-global internet services by the end of the year, another aircraft type is now flying with a test version of the Stellar Blu hardware on board.
IFEC
Delta confirms fleet-wide commitment to Viasat inflight internet
It has been intimated and implied for roughly two years. Now it is confirmed. Delta Air Lines expects Viasat’s inflight internet service to be active across its entire fleet by the end of next year.
More drama for the Jet It connectivity plans
Last week fractional jet operator Jet It announced plans to install Gogo’s AVANCE L3 inflight internet offering on board, upgrading and expanding the service available to its customers. Which was particularly surprising given that the company made a similar announcement with SmartSKy nine months prior.
Gogo’s 5G chips move to manufacturing
Last August Gogo announced a delay in its Gogo 5G network activation, owing to issues in development of the chipset for its on-board modem. Today the company confirms that those issues are resolved.
Delta shifts Wi-Fi on new A220s
Delta’s newest A220 looks a bit different than the others. The radome atop the fuselage suggests that Delta has shifted inflight internet providers for the type.
Alaska Airlines picks Intelsat for E175 streaming WiFi upgrade
Alaska Airlines will offer “streaming fast” Wi-Fi on its E175 fleet, beginning in 2024. The carrier plans to upgrade those aircraft, extending its longstanding partnership with Intelsat.
Airlines, Airplanes & Airports
JetBlue boosts Heathrow service with daytime flight from JFK
JetBlue will add a second daily flight between its JFK home base and Heathrow Airport this summer. The carrier secured slots to operate a daytime flight eastbound, leaving New York in the morning and landing the same day in London.
SAS to offer transatlantic flights from Aalborg, Gothenburg
Is there sufficient demand for transatlantic flights from smaller Scandinavian markets? Airlines have tried off and on over the years and failed to sustain the routes long term. But that won’t stop SAS from trying again. The carrier will fly from Aalborg, Denmark and Gothenburg, Sweden to Newark in Summer 2023.
Boom plans new Symphony supersonic engine design
Faced with the reality of no major commercial jet engine manufacturers willing to invest in a commercial supersonic engine, Boom Supersonic now has a new plan. The company will develop its own – dubbed Symphony – in partnership with Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) for engine design, GE Additive for additive technology design consulting, and StandardAero for maintenance.
United dreams big with massive 787 order
United Airlines is dreaming big for the next decade. The carrier announced an order today for 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, plus 100 more options, to fuel its widebody fleet replacement and growth strategy. By the end of the decade, assuming the options are exercised, more than 80% of United’s long-haul flying could be on 787s.
Emirates reboots the city ticket office concept, plans new network of shops
For decades airlines operated physical stores. The internet effectively destroyed City Ticket Offices. Now Emirates is bringing them back.
Seating & Cabin
Air China launches new A350 business class cabin
An updated business class cabin is now flying with Air China. The carrier’s newest A350 has the Recaro CL6720 business class “minisuite” on board, offering increased privacy for passengers.
Sorting suppliers for United’s mega Dreamliner order
Sure, United’s mega Dreamliner order is good news for Boeing. But what other suppliers are set up to win with the fleet refresh coming?
PLAY taps MOST for inflight retail upgrade
Inflight sales are getting a boost at PLAY. The Icelandic low-cost carrier selected MOST, makers of technology for a world on the move, to upgrade its onboard retailing and payment solutions experience.
Loyalty
British Airways brings Paramount+ on board
British Airways will offer content from streaming video provider Paramount+ on board its long-haul fleet. The partnership offers passengers access to an increased range of entertainment content, but stops a step short of bringing true streaming to all passengers on board.
JetBlue revamps TrueBlue Mosaic elite status program
JetBlue is very much not the same airline it was a decade ago when the its Mosaic program launched. And now the elite status portion of the company’s TrueBlue loyalty program will change, reflecting the carrier’s evolution as well as shifts in the overall airline loyalty market.
Avelo takes a different tack with a Capital One not quite cobrand credit card partnership
How can a small airline with no loyalty program to speak of take advantage of the booming co-brand credit card market? Avelo and Capital One appear to have a solution.
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.