A critical component of Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network (EAN) is the grant of S-band spectrum from European regulators. Rather than risking the operation with Brexit the group will rehome the EAN subsidiary to Luxembourg.
PaxEx Premium: Another ThinAir Ka2517 certification in the works
Antenna manufacturer ThinKom confirmed a second STC program currently active for its ThinAir Ka2517 kit. Although the company declined to provide any further details on which inflight connectivity provider or aircraft type is involved, some strong indicators are present, giving PaxEx.Aero confidence in naming a likely first buyer of the product. The A320 STC program...
United unveils Polaris Lounge in LA, announces two new United Clubs
United Airlines officially unveiled its newest Polaris Lounge today and used the opportunity to announce four other United Club updates, including two new locations.
The Joon branding experiment is officially over
Millennials finally killed something they should have: The millennial-focused airline. Air France’s Joon brand is officially dead as the company agreed to fold it back into Air France operations.
Multiple aviation projects hit by ongoing government shutdown
As the US government shutdown drags on the number of airline and airport projects at risk continues to grow. These are just a few of the major programs affected.
The fix is in: Deicing problems solved at Gogo
A big, fat zero. That’s the number inflight wifi connectivity provider Gogo reported this morning. But it is the good kind of zero: None of its 2Ku systems have failed from deicing fluid so far this season.
Norwegian launches free wifi across the Atlantic
Free wifi will soon join low fares on Norwegian’s transatlantic flights. The carrier’s installation of inflight connectivity on its 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX fleet is underway, some 27 months after the deal was first announced.
PaxEx Premium: Digging into the Thales lawsuit claims
With billions of dollars in contracts at stake perhaps it makes sense that Thales would seek extra help in securing new deals. That it stands accused of failing to pay its partner for that help is less good. That it now also likely faces scrutiny from US and international regulators related to suspicious payment schemes and efforts to influence leaders of foreign airlines is even worse. Welcome to the fun and exciting world of supplier deals in the Middle East.
Thales faces RICO lawsuit around IFEC deals in the Middle East
Is it possible for inflight entertainment and connectivity vendors to do business in the Middle East without suspicion of bribery and fraud? Just a couple years after securing multiple major contracts Thales stands accused of failing to pay a partner it used to facilitate those deals. More than a billion dollars in damages are on the line in the case.
Southwest clears first ETOPS check in Hawaii plans
Southwest Airlines is inching closer to approval for service to Hawaii. But don’t start planning a trip just yet. The carrier still needs to pass a few more hurdles before it can schedule service.








