How will Virgin Atlantic handle the extended engine repair times for its 787fleet? Four Airbus A330-200 planes will fill in according to new schedule details released today. And they may be in service longer than expected.
Expect the "Smart" luggage blockade to expand
The big 3 US carriers don’t want your “smart” suitcase in the cargo hold. Expect more carriers to join that effort in the coming days based on comments made this week at the IATA Global Media Day.
An investment Boom from Japan Airlines
Supersonic hopeful Boom Aerospace got a big vote of confidence – and cash infusion – from Japan Airlines this week. The airline will pump $10mm in to the company, supporting the potential return to commercial supersonic flight by the middle of the next decade.
Crushing an upstart travel industry in the name of safety
Your fancy new suitcase might not be welcome on an American Airlines flight starting in January. The company is banning “smart” suitcases in the cargo hold if the battery is installed. That’s great from a safety perspective but also introduces a ton of challenges for an upstart #PaxEx industry in what should be its break-out holiday season.
Joon expands ahead of inaugural operations
Air France’s Joon subsidiary launches operations tomorrow. The company showed off its aircraft interiors today and announced new destinations for the not-quite-LCC and also not-quite-really-Millennial-targeted services.
Virgin Atlantic’s 787 woes continue
Virgin Atlantic’s 787 fleet will be grounded longer than expected. The carrier cannot get its Rolls Royce Trent-1000 engines replaced quickly enough and is now set to lease additional aircraft to fill in the shortfall. This means a decidedly different passenger experience for some flights and routes.
Delta brings Gogo 2Ku installs in-house on A350
Delta is bringing more Gogo 2Ku wifi installation work in-house, a move that saves some cash and delivers other benefits for the airline.
PR: Bluebox, Virgin Atlantic Launch Fleet-Wide Accessible IFE Platform for Passengers with Sight Loss
Inflight entertainment is now more accessible for those with visual impairment thanks to Virgin Atlantic and Bluebox. The pair teamed up to develop and deliver a new IFE interface fleet-wide, designed to allow passengers with sight loss to interact with the system independently. It is a huge step forward in accommodation for an industry that is often aggressive in not making progress on such fronts.
Iridium-4 to launch on an old friend
Choosing to launch on a flight-proven SpaceX rocket earns Iridium a (mostly useless) mark on history. The company will be the first to launch multiple times on the same rocket.
Free Gogo coming for top Air Canada elites
Loyalty can earn you free wifi on your next Air Canada flight. The carrier teamed up with inflight connectivity provider Gogo to offer top-tier elites an unlimited connectivity pass to ease their frequent flyer life.









