Viasat added a major boost to its Ka-band network this week, activating connectivity over China. The capacity, first announced in early 2019, is made available through a partnership with China Satcom and the ChinaSat-16 satellite.
IFEC
Making the Business (Aviation) case for LEO at Gogo
“We are in active conversations in the LEO and ESA world.”
That comment from Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne earlier this summer kicked off significant speculation on what the next next generation (after Gogo 5G) will look like.
World2Fly picks GX Aviation via SITA for A350 WiFi
Spanish leisure airline World2Fly officially activated in-flight internet on its first A350-900. The GX Aviation platform from Inmarsat will deliver high-speed connectivity on board, with integration services delivered by SITA’s Internet ONAIR division.
Porter Airlines picks Viasat for E195-E2 WiFi
As Porter Air adds jets to the fleet the on-board experience will see an upgrade as well. The carrier announced the new E195-E2 fleet will include in-flight internet service from Viasat on board.
AERQ continues to build out partner ecosystem for AERENA IFE platform
When its new AERENA in-flight entertainment solution launched, AERQ made clear that it would depend on partners for much of the heavy lifting in delivering a fully functional platform. Four additional companies now join that family of offerings.
Scratch another IFC player from the commercial market
The Dubai Air Show provided plenty of positive news in the in-flight entertainment and connectivity world this week, but also some bad news. A second player is now out of the commercial aviation connectivity business.
Airbus scores a LiFi win for a trio of corporate jets
A trio of Saudi-based corporate jets will soon carry LiFi-connected screens on board. Alpha Star Aviation signed a letter of agreement at the Dubai Air Show this week to add the equipment to three Airbus Corporate Jets it manages.
Singapore Airlines unveils new 737 MAX cabins
As Singapore Airlines resumes 737 MAX flights later this year passengers will see a new product on board. The carrier unveiled its new premium cabin today, including lie-flat seats, as part of the overall offering.
Panasonic Avionics picked for Saudia IFE play
Passengers on Saudia’s A321neo and A321XLR fleet will find 4K screens and Bluetooth headphones integration at every seat on board. These features will be enabled by the Panasonic Avionics NEXT in-flight entertainment system.
Saudia selects Inmarsat GX for A321neo connectivity
Saudia’s upcoming A321neo and A321XLR fleet will feature Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Ka-band in-flight connectivity solution. The deal covers 35 aircraft slated to join the fleet in the coming years, and represents a series of firsts in the industry.