Get ready for another global airline in Saudi Arabia. The country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) officially launched Riyadh Air on Sunday, aiming to “leverage Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location between the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, enabling Riyadh to become a gateway to the world and a global destination for transportation, trade, and tourism.”
ThinKom scores Air Force contract for advanced ground station antenna array
More complex satellite constellations necessitate more capable antenna solutions on aircraft and at ground stations. ThinKom, long a provider of antenna hardware for mobile connectivity, now has a multi-million dollar deal to deliver a modern gateway kit to the US Air Force’s R&D arm.
Intelsat adds more LEO/GEO capacity with Eutelsat/OneWeb deal
Intelsat will expand its partnership with Eutelsat and OneWeb, securing additional capacity for its mobile connectivity solutions over Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
Northern Pacific finally set to fly, just not across the Pacific yet
Northern Pacific will take to the skies in June. The carrier’s first route is now on sale, and it is not what anyone expected.
JetBlue hit with DOJ, DOT objections to Spirit buyout
Regulatory approval has been a major concern since the day Spirit Airlines became a takeover target a year ago. Now, seven months after JetBlue won the bidding battle, it must convince US regulators – or a judge – that consolidation is good for consumers. And the Department of Justice will not make that an easy task.
Luxair powers up with Burrana USB ports
Luxair’s 737-800s are getting power ports on board. The carrier selected Burrana to deliver USB-A jacks nose-to-tail as part of a cabin upgrade across the type.
Austrian adds FlyNet app for WiFi access
Passengers on Austrian Airlines now have a new option to pay for inflight internet access. The carrier integrated the FlyNet® App, developed by Deutsche Telekom, as part of its passenger experience offering.
Virgin Atlantic is now a part of SkyTeam
Virgin Atlantic officially joins the SkyTeam alliance today, just five months after announcing its intention to affiliate with the group.
United Airlines appoints Oscar the Grouch as Chief Trash Officer
Oscar the Grouch wants you to get excited about Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. The Sesame Street character took on an additional job as United Airlines’ new Chief Trash Officer, part of a public outreach campaign the carrier launched this week.
airBaltic adds elite status option to Planies NFTs
Passengers can now buy elite status on airBaltic as part of the company’s efforts to bring NFTs into its loyalty program. Members of the airBaltic Club who acquire 25 of the company’s Planies NFTs will receive the VIP status tier in the program.