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.
2Ku
Intelsat Commercial Aviation launches, retires Gogo name
The product will still be known at 2Ku, at least for now. But the in-flight connectivity company previously known as Gogo Commercial Aviation officially changed its name to Intelsat Commercial Aviation, less than a year after closing on the transaction.
Tracking tails: More WiFi flying sooner than expected
In-flight WiFi installations don’t have to be a slow, drawn out affair. And even with the rebound in air travel demand in the US, some airlines are finding the necessary downtime in their fleet to get the gear installed. Including one sub-fleet that finished a little faster than previously anticipated.
Air France picks WiFi for A220 fleet
Air France selected the 2Ku solution from Intelsat to fit its A220 fleet, adding a bit of variation to the carrier’s connectivity configurations.
More Delta planes converting to Viasat in-flight WiFi
Chalk up another 230+ Delta Air Lines aircraft to be converted to the Viasat in-flight connectivity platform.
JetBlue’s A220 Fly-Fi: A bit different behind the scenes
Fast, free, FlyFi wifi on board every flight is a key value proposition from JetBlue. The carrier’s new A220 fleet features the same Viasat-powered satellite connectivity as the older aircraft, but how it came to be on the planes is a bit different from prior deliveries.
Delta’s first Viasat-equipped plane goes live this weekend
Delta Air Lines will launch its new, Viasat-powered in-flight connectivity era this weekend. The first A321ceo equipped with the Ka-band satellite connectivity gear expects to enter regular scheduled service on 1 May.
2Ku antenna challenges hit the A220
Air vortices off the 2Ku antenna system are once again causing troubles. This time it is the Airbus A220 affected, with some 65 fitted aircraft up for additional inspection and hardware replacement as a result.
NXTCOMM validates antenna design, sets sights on scale
Transitioning from proof-of-concept to at-scale manufacturing brings many challenges. NXTCOMM is ready to face those down as it plans to deliver its phased array antenna solutions later this year.
Virgin Atlantic see free WiFi on the horizon, seeks better selling opportunities in the interim
Virgin Atlantic reiterated its expectation that in-flight WiFi connectivity will eventually be free to passengers. But don’t expect that in the immediate future. The company is much more focused today on improving the paid take rates than transitioning to a free model.