PaxEx Update: 12 July 2019

Welcome to PaxEx Update, bringing you the latest news in Passenger Experience for the week ending 12 July 2019.

First up is a new premium cabin offering from ANA that will knock your socks off. The carrier plans to fit a dozen of its 777-300ERs with the new layout, featuring 8 first class and 64 business class seats. First class passengers get 43″ 4K screens on top of all the other amenities, while the business class cabin sees some of the widest seats on the market. In addition to the new seats and IFE screens the plane also includes Ku-band connectivity from Panasonic Avionics on board.

Delta’s first A330neo entered service this week, flying from Seattle to Shanghai. The plane offers DeltaOne suites, Premium Select, Comfort+ and Main Cabin and it all looks great on board. Connectivity comes from Gogo‘s 2Ku kit while the wireless embedded inflight entertainment solution from Delta Flight Products is also flying on board. A couple small bugs in the system still being worked out, but overall it looks solid. Service from Seattle to Seoul begins on October 1 and to Narita on October 27.

Airlines love passenger data and are really excited to mine it for sales insights. British Airways also learned this week that failing to protect it, even if attacked by hackers, is an expensive mistake. The $230mm fine from regulators is under appeal.

Delta also reiterated its plans to eventually offer complimentary wifi to all passengers, though it seems unlikely that will come to fruition this year. CEO Ed Bastian indicated more testing was required in this week’s earnings call.

Finally, the airline not to be named Moxy might take flight in the US without embedded IFE screens. Is that a mistake for the new carrier?

Get details on these stories and more throughout the week at PaxEx.Aero and have a great trip!