Making good on a promise by CEO Tony Fernandes earlier this year, AirAsia is poised to sell tickets for other airlines on its website. Fernandes confirmed the plans on Monday, with further details to come in a formal announcement next week. The effort is the latest step in the company’s efforts to grow beyond just being an airline into a digital services company that just happens to also operate planes.
Introducing Blue Basic: JetBlue’s new, most limited fare option
JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare is now for real. The basic economy offering limits flexibility, effectively introducing a fare hike. And the overall reshuffling of fare families brings a couple surprising adjustments to the company’s offerings.
Global Eagle signs with Turkish Airlines for inflight connectivity
Adding more than 100 Turkish Airlines planes to its inflight connectivity backlog is good news for Global Eagle. Perhaps more significant, however, is the potential for additional program growth that come from the partnerships it established to secure this Turkish Airlines deal.
Austrian updates seat selection with 3DSeatViewVR
Passengers who can see what they’re buying are more likely to spend extra for more legroom and other seating improvements. That’s the theory Austrian Airlines is working with as the carrier announced the introduction of a 3D preview during the seat selection process. The new service is available today on the airline’s website for flights operated on its Boeing 777 fleet.
Recaro’s iSeat brings the connected cabin to life on TAP Air Portugal
Some TAP Air Portugal seats are getting smarter. In partnership with aircraft seating giant Recaro the airline installed its first ever “intelligent seat” product in the cabin of a TAP A321. The economy class BL3530 seat is equipped with numerous sensors to gather data on seat performance and generic behavior during flight. The trial with […]
Norwegian declares itself "fully funded through 2020 and beyond"
Norwegian’s financials, or potential lack of such, have raised eyebrows in the aviation world for some time now. Hoping to put those fears to rest – and continue selling seats as it heads into the traditionally slower winter season – the carrier announced the closing of a ~$275 million financing round. The company declared, “After the completion of the transactions, Norwegian is fully funded through 2020 and beyond based on the current business plan.”
Azul plans inflight connectivity with Viasat deal
Brazil’s Azul will add inflight wifi connectivity to its fleet going forward. Viasat was selected as the network integrator for the Ka-band satellite service.
Gogo talking Ka as growth opportunities abound
For a company that is now mostly known for its Ku-band inflight connectivity offering the idea of bringing Ka-band services online in parallel may appear somewhat incongruous. But for Gogo, the news out this morning that it is pitching Ka-band solutions to potential customers is, according to CEO Oakleigh Thorne, more about holding fast to its plans.
JetBlue boosts inflight entertainment content with new partners
Putting big, bright new HD screens in the seatback is good for passengers. Dramatically increasing the content on those screens is even better. JetBlue passengers should be very happy now based on new partnerships announced this week with Showtime, Spotify, INSCAPE, and PressReader.
EL AL expands connectivity partnership with Viasat
Add another half dozen planes to the backlog, and a new type for Viasat’s inflight connectivity platform. EL AL will fit its 777 fleet with the Ka-band wifi service in the coming year.