Can LiFi replace WiFi on board, opening up more spectrum for passengers? And can new satellite launches deliver the capacity that airlines need for inflight connectivity? Plus an expanding award chart and plans for a massive fleet expansion in India.
LiFi takes flight with Air France, Latécoère
Move over WiFi; LiFi is now flying. Delivering on a promise made during the Paris Air Show Air France and hardware supplier Latécoère operated the LiFi (Light Fidelity) system on board a commercial flight this week, bringing a new means for high speed data transmission into service.
Final piece of Bombardier’s restructuring puzzle: Aerostructures sold to Spirit AeroSystems
The final phase of Bombardier’s aviation business restructuring is approaching the finish line. The company announced today a definitive agreement to sell its aerostructures business to Spirit AeroSystems. The deal includes facilities in Belfast, Casablanca and Dallas. Spirit will pay $500 million in cash and assume liabilities in excess of $700 million as part of the deal.
Does hourly service a shuttle make??
What does it take to claim a “Shuttle” service between two airports? Is it hourly service throughout the day? Is it more flexible fees and policies? Is it improved catering on board? For United Airlines and the new “shuttle-like” service between Newark and Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) the answer might surprise you.
MilePlay: Inside the numbers of United’s loyalty gamification & personalization push
Personalization and gamification. If you’re running a loyalty program these are key considerations that drive member engagement and incremental revenue generation. It is hard to judge the results from the outside looking in, but United Airlines opened up recently, sharing the success of its MilePlay promotions.
Norwegian’s Russian dalliance could open new Asian markets thanks to the SSJ100
It is no secret that Norwegian wants access to fly across northern Russia. The trans-Siberian routes open up opportunities in North Asia, including Japan, China and Korea. And the Russians know this. The country is a notoriously tough negotiator when it comes to gaining access to those routes. Some might even claim extortionate. Oh, and the country has a maligned small airplane that it would like to see selling better, perhaps flying more outside of its home carriers. What are the odds??
IndiGo signs for 300 more A320neo aircraft
India’s largest domestic carrier plans to continue it meteoric growth pace. The carrier announced an order for 300 more A320neo family aircraft. This latest order contains a mix of A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR planes. With the new order the carrier’s total book with Airbus reaches 730 frames.
Some thoughts on Muilenburg’s testimony about the 737 MAX crash
What can we gather from more than three hours of testimony by Boeing executives and government safety officials before the US Senate Commerce Committee today? Mostly that the format is terrible for getting real answers to the critical questions surrounding the 737MAX crashes, subsequent grounding and potential, eventual return to service. Still, a few interesting bits bubbled up through the testimony.
Eutelsat plans more Ku-band capacity; Gogo signs on for increased service
More Ku-band capacity is coming on line over Europe, the North Atlantic and Middle East in 2022. Eutelsat will launch 10B, a replacement for its existing 10A satellite, delivering a significant boost to capacity. Gogo is a committed customer for the new satellite and others are also in the wings.
JetBlue adds support chat to mobile apps
Need to get in touch with JetBlue’s customer service team? Skip the phone call and open the airline’s app. Thanks to its partnership with customer service technology company Gladly, JetBlue now offers a fully integrated support chat option in its iOS mobile application. Android integration will go live in the coming weeks.