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.
CRJ900
Delta confirms multi-link IFC plans with Hughes
Delta Air Lines confirms it is “exploring” the option to enable multi-link network connectivity in a first for the commercial aviation world. Developed in partnership with Hughes Networks, the carrier expects to see the service flying in late 2025.
Shifting install sequencing
Will airlines hit their 2025 target to replace the inflight internet services on smaller planes in North America? Probably. But the sequence and timing on those appears to be shifting a bit.
American taps Intelsat for high speed Wi-Fi on regional fleet
American Airlines will upgrade the inflight internet on its regional jet fleet over the next two years. The carrier selected Intelsat to provide high-speed satellite-based service to just under 500 of the smaller jets.
Delta selects Hughes to complete Wi-Fi upgrades
Delta Air Lines will add diversity to its inflight internet supply and Hughes has a launch customer for its new Jupiter in-flight service offering. The two will pair up to bring Wi-Fi to more than 400 aircraft across Delta’s fleet.
Beyond the bytes: Partnerships pushing product progress
Air Canada’s newly expanded relationship with Intelsat shows off the power of jointly developing not just a bandwidth map, but partnering on how that service is delivered, to the airline and to passengers on board.
Air Canada expands Intelsat partnership for in-flight Wi-Fi on 737 MAX, regional jets
Updated inflight internet systems are coming to Air Canada’s 737 MAX and regional jets. In total, approximately 100 planes will see Intelsat’s systems installed in the years ahead.
Pilots furloughs put squeeze on US regional fleets
With US airlines now filing WARN notices for potential furloughs the potential to see that impact their regional partners is becoming more clear. Scope clauses in the pilot union contracts could have a significant impact come 1 October.
Mitsubishi looks to Canada for its MRJ program
If you can’t join them, buy them. Mitsubishi appears poised to do just that as Bombardier seeks to offload its CRJ regional jet product line. At least it would solve the scope clause issues.
Can Space Jet save the MRJ??
Can a rebranding and redesign of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet to “Space Jet” restore the type’s fortunes? The market could use a competitor to shake up Embraer’s monopoly, but uncertainty and further delays are not going to help the MRJ break into the market.