The Business of Passenger Experience
Calling it a next generation network may be a slight stretch but Panasonic Avionics is making some changes to how it delivers inflight connectivity. Adding bandwidth is the (relatively) easy part. Blocking the updates no one needs on a plane is harder but also a potentially more significnat improvement to the passenger experience.
Air Canada's 737 MAX fleet is getting inflight connectivity but it might not be what was expected. The first radome installation is complete and it looks like a new vendor may be in play, with Thales breaking in to Gogo territory.
Inmarsat's hybrid EAN service is on track for entry to service in 2018. Could it have a new airline customer to come along with that launch? Signs point to an interesting opportunity within the Lufthansa Group of airlines.
Delta is bringing more Gogo 2Ku wifi installation work in-house, a move that saves some cash and delivers other benefits for the airline.
JetBlue is tweaking its inflight connectivity plans, securing its relationship with ViaSat while pushing Thales out as an integrator. That's mostly good news, unless you're Thales.
JetBlue's A320 fleet upgrade will be a little different than initially announced, mostly in a good way. Newer entertainment and connectivity solutions are now (officially) part of the plan.
Can a slow inflight internet connection deliver real passenger benefits? In many cases it is better than nothing and Lufthansa Systems is talking about ways to integrate such into a low-cost solution for airlines.
Has the LEO/MEO revolution spooked Panasonic Avionics? "Radical change" is coming according to VP Global Sales David Bruner, putting the company's 6-payload XTS Ku-band network on a new track.
More passengers are using Gogo's service but that doesn't translate into greater profits. Costs are also up and consumers may find themselves soon paying more as well.
