Some travelers on Air Canada’s Rouge fleet should find themselves just a bit more comfortable starting later this year. The carrier announced plans to retrofit cabins and remove a few seats on nine of its A321s, increasing legroom for passengers.
IFEC
QantasLink adds streaming IFE to regional ops
Qantas plans to add in-flight entertainment to its regional jet operations. The carrier’s QantasLink group will add wireless IFE to its jets in partnership with streaming IFE provider Bluebox Aviation Systems.
Greater Bay Airlines selects Burrana RISE for in-seat power
When Greater Bay Airlines takes flight from Hong Kong, expected later this year, passengers will have power available at their seats. While few details of the in-flight product are available, the carrier will offer USB outlets for every passenger, with the RISE USB solution from Burrana.
Flat-rate connectivity bundles launch from Panasonic Avionics
In-flight connectivity packages measured by the megabyte generally suck for consumers. Uncertainty over consumption rates and costs make for a worse passenger experience. Panasonic Avionics now wants to help address that issue, but more for the airlines than passengers.
Alitalia Due (a/k/a Italia Trasporto Aereo) applies for US service
Come October 15th Alitalia will cease operations; Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) will take its place as Italy’s flag carrier. Except that Alitalia will still probably be in business. ITA confirms that it intends to bid on the Alitalia brand at auction as part of its application to serve the United States.
El Al removing Viasat WiFi from 737s to avoid possible aircraft damage
El Al, Astronics, and Viasat joined the dubious group of in-flight connectivity installations causing damage to aircraft last week. As a result, hardware must be removed from the planes to avoid catastrophic failure.
OneWeb secures antenna, investment with Hanwha Systems
Each of OneWeb’s post-bankruptcy investors plays a strategic role in the company’s future. Last week’s news of a new partner keeps that streak alive, as Korea’s Hanwha Systems added $300 million to the company’s coffers.
Perhaps more importantly, however, Hanwha can provide a critical component of the company’s technical roadmap. Expect to see electronically steered antenna (ESA) solutions delivered from Hanwha to power the OneWeb customer terminals.
Anuvu announces STC for A321, Turkish Airlines installs
The Turkish Airlines A321 fleet is now ready for a new WiFi solution on board. The carrier and in-flight connectivity provider Anuvu announced receipt of certification for the Airconnect Global Ku inflight connectivity (IFC) system on the type from European regulators.
Panasonic Avionics’ AeroMobile adds GigSky as eSIM roaming partner for in-flight WiFi
Another option to get connected in the sky now exists. Panasonic Avionics and GigSky, a global mobility provider based in Silicon Valley, partnered to offer an alternate means to buy day passes valid on aircraft fitted with the AeroMobile picocell technology.
JetBlue across the Atlantic: A compelling coach offering to London
From the moment the company announced its plans, there was little doubt that JetBlue would bring a different take to the transatlantic market. The real question was what the execution would look like. Now that the A321LRs are flying the answer is clear: It is phenomenal.