Viasat added a major boost to its Ka-band network this week, activating connectivity over China. The capacity, first announced in early 2019, is made available through a partnership with China Satcom and the ChinaSat-16 satellite.
Making the Business (Aviation) case for LEO at Gogo
“We are in active conversations in the LEO and ESA world.”
That comment from Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne earlier this summer kicked off significant speculation on what the next next generation (after Gogo 5G) will look like.
Air Canada fined $2 million in DOT settlement
Air Canada and the US Department of Transportation agreed to a $4.5 million fine related to the airline’s failure to provide timely refunds to passengers after cancelling flights in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
World2Fly picks GX Aviation via SITA for A350 WiFi
Spanish leisure airline World2Fly officially activated in-flight internet on its first A350-900. The GX Aviation platform from Inmarsat will deliver high-speed connectivity on board, with integration services delivered by SITA’s Internet ONAIR division.
Porter Airlines picks Viasat for E195-E2 WiFi
As Porter Air adds jets to the fleet the on-board experience will see an upgrade as well. The carrier announced the new E195-E2 fleet will include in-flight internet service from Viasat on board.
Emirates (re)commits big to Premium Economy
Emirates will add premium economy seating to 105 aircraft in its fleet, joining the handful of 380s delivered with the product on board. The retrofit program is expected to begin at the end of 2022 and take 18 months to complete.
AERQ continues to build out partner ecosystem for AERENA IFE platform
When its new AERENA in-flight entertainment solution launched, AERQ made clear that it would depend on partners for much of the heavy lifting in delivering a fully functional platform. Four additional companies now join that family of offerings.
Scratch another IFC player from the commercial market
The Dubai Air Show provided plenty of positive news in the in-flight entertainment and connectivity world this week, but also some bad news. A second player is now out of the commercial aviation connectivity business.
Airbus scores a LiFi win for a trio of corporate jets
A trio of Saudi-based corporate jets will soon carry LiFi-connected screens on board. Alpha Star Aviation signed a letter of agreement at the Dubai Air Show this week to add the equipment to three Airbus Corporate Jets it manages.
Singapore Airlines unveils new 737 MAX cabins
As Singapore Airlines resumes 737 MAX flights later this year passengers will see a new product on board. The carrier unveiled its new premium cabin today, including lie-flat seats, as part of the overall offering.