Gulfstream owners seem to love the Inmarsat Jet ConneX (JX) in-flight connectivity system. The companies announced this week more than 500 of the large cabin business jets now carry the JX kit on board.
IFEC
Bluebox, Aerospace Engineering secure certification for plug-in model
The Bluebox Wow streaming IFE solution is now available as a plug-in model. The company announced certification from EASA this week, allowing the updated option to be installed on A320 aircraft.
Icelandair brings the MAX 9 online
Icelandair can once again claim in-flight wifi availability on 100% of its flights. The carrier’s 737 MAX fleet, fitted with Ka-band satellite connectivity from Viasat, began activation earlier this year and will accelerate thanks to a recently received certification on the MAX 9.
American Airlines won’t bring back IFE screens
In-seat screens are not coming back to American Airlines’ single-aisle fleet. The company doubled down on its decision to focus on streaming entertainment on board in the wake of United Airlines’ about face on the issue, citing technical and ecological reasons.
United toys with free in-flight WiFi for messaging, plus a streaming option
Expect to see some new wifi options on some United Airlines flights, at least for a short while. The company is testing options for higher speeds to support streaming video services, as well as a free option for messaging services, on some of its aircraft.
Cathay Pacific A321neo brings many firsts to market
With its inaugural flight A321neo to Shanghai-Pudong on 4 August, Cathay Pacific will break through a number of milestones, particularly around in-flight entertainment and connectivity services.
NetForecast launches airline WiFi service monitoring tool
Can airlines deliver a better in-flight connectivity experience if they better understand how the passenger networks are performing? That’s a major goal for NetForecast and its QMap® Inflight Internet Experience Monitoring service.
Vietnam Airlines plans short-haul WiFi service
Domestic flights across Vietnam will have internet service in the near future. Vietnam Airlines confirms its intentions to add in-flight connectivity to its domestic fleet. The news is part of a strategic alliance with local telco Viettel and will be delivered through an air-to-ground (ATG) network.
British Airways brings back on-board food sales
It turns out that most travelers do not know what they want as a snack more than 24 hours prior to their travels. British Airways appears to have learned this lesson as the carrier will enable in-flight ordering from its buy-on-board menu for departures from its Heathrow base.
Panasonic Avionics boosts China capacity with APSTAR 6D
In-flight internet service picked up some speed over China. Panasonic Avionics Corporation (PAC) completed activation of its extreme high throughput (XTS) satellite payload via four teleports in the region, including one in mainland China.