Massively greater bandwidth. Fully dynamic allocation of coverage and capacity. Significantly quicker to manufacture and launch. These are just a few of the characteristics expected from the next generation of satellites joining the Inmarsat GX constellation. The company announced plans today for the first of the new satellites to join the network in orbit from 2023.
Upgraded "Gogo 5G" ATG network to launch in 2021
The next generation air-to-ground (ATG-NG) inflight connectivity network from Gogo is officially back in development. The project, rebranded as “Gogo 5G,” is expected to be available beginning in 2021. The system will operate with both licensed and unlicensed spectrum to provide the best possible performance and redundancy for aircraft owners and passengers.
Viasat adds 18-inch Ka-band terminal to business jet offerings
Inflight connectivity provider Viasat has a new, larger antenna now available for the business aviation market. The Ka-band Global Aero Terminal (GAT-5518) offers an 18-inch, dual axis antenna for Ka-band communications covering the company’s satellites in the Americas, Europe and Australia. The kit is future-compatible with the ViaSat-3 constellation that will provide global coverage early […]
Royal Jordanian adds streaming IFE with BlueBox
Passengers on Royal Jordanian’s short haul fleet now have an inflight entertainment option available. The carrier added the “Sky Connect” streaming IFE option to ten aircraft building on the Bluebox Wow platform. The service launched this week across the carrier’s fleet of four A319 and six A320 aircraft.
Rising rhetoric: An impending union battle for American Airlines
Who wins in a protracted labor battle? That answer is rarely clear, but passengers nearly always lose in the short term. Calls for the “bloodiest” battle ever in the industry by the American Airlines mechanics union are not going to help alleviate those concerns this summer.
Grand Kiwi Dream(liner)s
Air New Zealand will acquire eight new 787-10 Dreamliners as part of its fleet upgrade program. The new aircraft will arrive beginning in 2022, continuing through 2027. The long-expected order will see the new aircraft replace the carrier’s existing 777-200 fleet.
Viasat’s inflection point
Massive expansion costs are set to give way to recurring revenue growth. That is the message Viasat delivered as it issued is most recent earnings numbers this week. Even as the company pushes forward with the build-out of its new ViaSat-3 constellation with dramatically more bandwidth and geographic coverage, it hopes to convert the existing capacity into new deals and new subscribers, with a significant push into new inflight connectivity markets, among other areas.
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Viasat delivers inflight connectivity on Embraer Praetor 600
Among the many accomplishments Embraer’s Praetor 600 realized this week, arriving at EBACE with inflight wifi operational is a pretty nice win. That system is operating on the Viasat network and includes the newest BizAv tail-mount kit from the company.
Bits and bobs from EBACE 2019
The annual Geneva gathering of the Business Aviation world known as EBACE is once again underway. The event is a showcase for aircraft manufactures and third party suppliers to highlight their new offerings and features for the private jet travel industry. This year’s show includes incremental updates in the inflight connectivity and entertainment segment, as well as fun new interiors and even progress towards sustainability.
Considering Gogo’s ATG-NG play
The on again, off again progress on an upgraded terrestrial network for inflight connectivity provider Gogo appear to be back in motion. In the company's most recent earnings call CEO Oakleigh Thorne indicated that the company is "particularly excited by some of the plans we’re developing for our next-gen network," though he stopped short of delivering too much in the way of additional details. Hardware supplier ZTE is out, thanks to questions about the long-term viability of growing the network with a Chinese vendor in the mix. But the program is very much alive, despite skepticism sown in Thorne's early days at the helm.
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