It is time, once again, for a conversation about additional runways at London airports. With the third runway at Heathrow stalled, Gatwick is pushing to activate its shorter North runway for departures, boosting capacity and reducing congestion at the airport. Community consultations are slated to begin in two weeks.
American reopening Flagship lounges, expanding access
As airlines shuttered lounges across the globe at the onset of the pandemic, many promised to reopen when premium demand returned. American Airlines is ready to make good on that commitment, with its first two Flagship Lounges set to welcome guests again beginning next month.
El Al removing Viasat WiFi from 737s to avoid possible aircraft damage
El Al, Astronics, and Viasat joined the dubious group of in-flight connectivity installations causing damage to aircraft last week. As a result, hardware must be removed from the planes to avoid catastrophic failure.
OneWeb secures antenna, investment with Hanwha Systems
Each of OneWeb’s post-bankruptcy investors plays a strategic role in the company’s future. Last week’s news of a new partner keeps that streak alive, as Korea’s Hanwha Systems added $300 million to the company’s coffers.
Perhaps more importantly, however, Hanwha can provide a critical component of the company’s technical roadmap. Expect to see electronically steered antenna (ESA) solutions delivered from Hanwha to power the OneWeb customer terminals.
Anuvu announces STC for A321, Turkish Airlines installs
The Turkish Airlines A321 fleet is now ready for a new WiFi solution on board. The carrier and in-flight connectivity provider Anuvu announced receipt of certification for the Airconnect Global Ku inflight connectivity (IFC) system on the type from European regulators.
Premia plans a "value" play to the USA
Unlike other recent long-haul start-ups Premia is not a low cost carrier. The company presents as a “value” carrier option, with more customer-friendly allowances, but still lower prices than the legacy operators.
Allegiant’s Allways Rewards launches targeting Gen Z and Millennial travelers
Frequent redemptions and earnings on literally everything available for sale on the website are two key components of the new Allways Rewards program from Allegiant, officially launching this week.
Breeze banks $200 million to fuel growth
Breeze Airways secured an additional $200 million in funding, providing the carrier with a sizable bankroll to support upcoming expansion. The deal involves new and existing investors and gives the company the most capital for any of this year’s startup carriers.
Panasonic Avionics’ AeroMobile adds GigSky as eSIM roaming partner for in-flight WiFi
Another option to get connected in the sky now exists. Panasonic Avionics and GigSky, a global mobility provider based in Silicon Valley, partnered to offer an alternate means to buy day passes valid on aircraft fitted with the AeroMobile picocell technology.
Ravn Alaska joins Mileage Plan as an earn & burn partner
Ravn Alaska is joining Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan loyalty program. The new partnership will allow travelers to earn Mileage Plan points on Ravn’s network of flights to small Alaskan communities from Anchorage.