For years airlines have battled to dominate international markets from Los Angeles International Airport. This week American Airlines effectively conceded defeat in that market. As part of its long-haul network revamp the carrier will shed most of those routes from LAX.
JetBlue pilots secure no furlough deal through April 2021
With CARES Act Payroll Support Program funding set to expire at the end of September 2020 many airline employees are facing the very real risk of layoffs or furlough. But JetBlue pilots secured a major win this week.
Tap to pee: PXCom launches digital lavatory queuing option
A number of companies have teased the idea of virtual queue management for lavatory access to reduce passenger movement on board. Now PXCom delivers.
This plane can taxi, take off and land all on its own
Most conversations about autonomous aircraft focus on smaller planes. But Airbus decided to go large when it comes to taxi, take off, and landing automation. Very large. The aircraft manufacturer announced this week the successful conclusion of its Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off and Landing (ATTOL) project using the A350-1000 XWB aircraft.
SmartSky counters Gogo’s patent dispute
When Gogo filed for a review of a key SmartSky patent in April the upstart inflight connectivity company vowed to defend its intellectual property portfolio. At its core, SmartSky’s position is that Gogo chose to redefine the term “Software Defined Radio.” SkartSky also posits that much of the petition is redundant to evidence previously considered in the initial application review.
Global Eagle faces additional financial challenges
With the deadline for filing its quarterly financials come and gone Global Eagle faces a number of challenges. Global Eagle now anticipates filing its earnings no later than 6 July 2020. And the contents of that filing are not expected to paint a pretty picture.
Qantas lounges reopen in Australia, inflight wifi service resumes
Qantas will reopen eleven of its airport lounges to kick off the month of July as travel and venue restrictions ease across Australia. The lounges shuttered on 23 March owing to government restrictions. The reopened lounges will welcome fewer passengers owing to new capacity limitations, and operate slightly differently than they did earlier this year.
Nokia, EE team up for new air-to-ground connectivity network
Nokia found a new opportunity to deploy its air-to-ground inflight connectivity hardware. The company behind the ground station antennae for Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network secured a deal with EE, part of the British Telecom group, to deploy a nationwide, dedicated, airborne communications network for Great Britain’s emergency services.
British Airways continues to diversify its inflight connectivity portfolio
British Airways’ newest long-haul planes will not be fitted with the Gogo 2Ku solution. Instead, the company will diversify its vendor portfolio, though passengers shouldn’t notice the difference.
Finnair brings back Helsinki lounge, inflight catering
Finnair is the latest carrier to reinstate some additional services for travelers. The carrier will reopen a lounge in Helsinki and expand catering on board most flights, though still with limitations and an eye towards the current operating environment.