Cathay Pacific is getting in on the vaccination prizes game in a big way. Among other things, Hong Kongers can win access to one of the company’s planes for a joy ride with friends.
Mirus adds in-house crash testing facility
Designing and building a new, market-leading seat design is no easy feat. Mirus Aircraft Seating will soon be able to perform another portion of the process in house. The company received a grant to build the largest commercially available aircraft seating test facility in the UK. The facility is expected to enter service in July 2022.
United’s regional future: It’s Electric!
The next 100 planes United Airlines wants to order are very, very different. The Heart Aerospace ES-19 is a 19-seat electric prop that could dramatically change how the company feeds its hubs from smaller airports. Assuming it gets past the many challenges it faces.
British Airways brings back on-board food sales
It turns out that most travelers do not know what they want as a snack more than 24 hours prior to their travels. British Airways appears to have learned this lesson as the carrier will enable in-flight ordering from its buy-on-board menu for departures from its Heathrow base.
Frontier adds St Maarten, continues Caribbean expansion
Frontier’s newest Caribbean destination is a big deal for St Maarten’s tourism recovery. But for the airline it is just another stepping stone into a refocused network that the company hopes will further increase yields.
Panasonic Avionics boosts China capacity with APSTAR 6D
In-flight internet service picked up some speed over China. Panasonic Avionics Corporation (PAC) completed activation of its extreme high throughput (XTS) satellite payload via four teleports in the region, including one in mainland China.
Aer Lingus UK gains operating certificate, with a limited range
Aer Lingus UK finally secured its operating certificate from British authorities, paving the way for the carrier to launch its operations from Manchester to the US and Caribbean islands later this year. But broarder expansion may be hampered by the fine print in that AOC document.
Porter to join the jet era, add Embraer E195-E2 fleet
Not only will Porter Airlines back bring its core services at Toronto’s downtown Billy Bishop Airport starting in September, but it will also add jet service from other hubs, dramatically increasing its presence in Canada and the USA beginning in 2022.
Intelsat Commercial Aviation launches, retires Gogo name
The product will still be known at 2Ku, at least for now. But the in-flight connectivity company previously known as Gogo Commercial Aviation officially changed its name to Intelsat Commercial Aviation, less than a year after closing on the transaction.
Singapore Airlines expands in-flight shopping with on-ground fulfillment
In-flight shopping took a new turn on Singapore Airlines as the carrier unveils an expanded on-board shopping experience. With a range of delivery options, the expanded KrisShop melds the convenience of on-board shopping with inventory only possible through a warehouse on the ground.