Supporting a potential for 150,000 more passengers online in the sky every day at the end of October is no easy feat. But suppliers say they’re ready for Southwest’s shift, and the other airlines expected in the months to follow.
Air Canada
Gossiping Around the APEX Water Cooler
Kuiper made a splash at APEX Global Expo this year, showing up with its first customer in hand. Starlink also always grabs a lot of attention. But it was the quieter conversations away from the main floor that were, as always, most interesting.
Air Canada Plans Q400 Cabin Refresh, Starlink Wi-Fi Activation
Air Canada’s smallest aircraft are getting a big glow-up. The carrier will refresh interiors on 25 of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, including Starlink Wi-Fi and Expliseat seating.
Starlink Officially Offerable on Dash 8-400 Props
De Havilland now officially offers Starlink inflight internet as an option for its Dash 8-400 family of aircraft.
JetBlue to Deploy Quvia Grid for Next-gen IFC Management
As JetBlue’s next generation of inflight internet enters service it will be backed by Quvia’s Grid solution, providing management of the in-cabin network.
More Starlink Flies North of the Border
More Starlink-equipped aircraft are now flying as part of a North American airline’s operations, but scant few travelers will get to take advantage of the service.
Air Canada’s Free Wi-Fi Goes Live, Boosts Performance
Air Canada Aeroplan members flying across North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean can now get online for free in flight. I got to test the system before the offical go-live date hit.
American Airlines Launches Free Wi-Fi in 2026
Wi-Fi will be free for American Airlines AAdvantage members from 2026, sponsored by AT&T.
SatShow Scuttlebutt
Some of the smaller hints dropped in various conversations appear to be more significant than they seemed at first blush.
Beyond Multi-orbit: Multi-beam Driving Inflight Connectivity Innovation
Yes, multi-orbit satellite solutions are the near-term future of inflight connectivity. But multi-beam offerings are set to dominate sales conversations as service providers look to add resiliency, reliability, and flexibility for their airline partners.