So long, Gate 35X. We won’t miss you at all.
Drinks coming back on American Airlines
Beverages are back! American Airlines is phasing beverage service back into its operations as travel demand rebounds and the number of vaccinated passengers continues to increase. The new policy begins on 1 May 2021, with full beverage service returning in all domestic premium cabins.
Jet Edge upgrades to Gogo Business Aviation Streaming Wi-Fi
Business jet operator Jet Edge plans to outfit its full fleet of super-mid Challenger and large Cabin Gulfstream aircraft with the Gogo Business Aviation AVANCE L5 offering. In addition to the upgraded on-board hardware the solution will support streaming video solutions for passengers.
United adds Europe routes in hopes of a recovery
United Airlines added a trio of routes to Europe for the upcoming Summer season, banking on borders reopening and vaccinated passengers being able to vacation. Additional capacity to Croatia, Iceland and Greece is planned starting in July.
Turkish scales back MAX fleet plans
Turkish Airlines is the latest carrier to adjust its 737 MAX order book, and the news is not good for Boeing. The carrier’s restructured order includes cancelations, conversion to options, and deferral of future deliveries for the single-aisle aircraft.
United bringing AVOD update in interiors retrofit
In a nod to a more generous in-seat entertainment experience, United Airlines plans an AVOD upgrade for at least part of its single-aisle fleet. In a message to employees on Thursday Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist indicated that an interior retrofit is on the way for “our older narrow-body airplanes, putting in new bins, AVOD, and new seats.”
ExpressJet plans comeback this Spring
ExpressJet is ready to return to the skies. The carrier plans to launch independent service this Spring according to recent DOT filings, growing its fleet of Embraer ERJ-145 planes to serve short-haul markets.
Gogo, TMobile crack down on WiFi freeloaders
The recovery of passenger traffic in the domestic US market continues to show strength. As travelers return, however, they will notice many changes to the in-flight experience. Among those changes, a shift in the way some inflight connectivity subscriptions operate.
Next Gen ATG 5G moves forward in China
Getting a 5G air-to-ground network into service in the USA is a tough task, with schedules continuing to slip and questions about the hardware involved. But in China the new services are expected to launch soon, and expand quickly. Powered by Chinese manufacturer ZTE, a new network could be online in a matter of months.
Collusion to Ecuador?? Airlines spar over slots and service
As drama around the American Airlines/JetBlue Northeast Alliance continues to swell, the battle is spilling over to an unlikely location: Ecuador. Recent requests for adjustments triggered accusations of collusion by American Airlines and JetBlue, outside the approved partnership parameters.