Little deals matter, too. Italian leisure carrier Neos is the latest carrier to choose an inflight wifi connectivity solution. The carrier picked Viasat’s Ka-band system to operate on its trio of 787 Dreamliners.
Dreamliner
A few firsts on Juneyao’s premier Dreamliner
Adding a new type to an airline’s fleet is interesting in its own right. China’s Juneyao Airlines added the 787-9 Dreamliner last week and it is more significant than most similar expansions, both for passengers and China’s aviation industry growth.
Pitching inflight wifi to NEOS: A look at the options
How does an airline go about comparing the inflight wifi connectivity options available on the 787 Dreamliner? Lots of contract details about pricing and delivery timeframes are certainly critical, but occasionally the data is summed up into two slides in a briefing deck. For Italian charter operator NEOS the contest settled between Viasat and Panasonic Avionics back in 2017. It appears the carrier chose neither vendor, but the summary of the positioning from the two finalists is intriguing.
WestJet Dreams of Europe: Initial 787-9 routes announced
London, Paris and Dublin are the first destinations for WestJet’s new 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The aircraft will be based in the carrier’s Calgary hub and offer streamlined connecting opportunities for passengers headed to Europe as the carrier adjusts its connection banks to benefit the Transatlantic routes.
Best of Farnborough 2018: Airbus’ little, little(ish) win
An order for two aircraft is rarely big news. But for Uganda (National??) Airlines and Airbus it represents a significant deal on both sides. The carrier will CRJ900s to prove its operations and grow into the long-haul operation with the A330s arriving at the end of 2020. Assuming the airline is still solvent and the –800s really exist.
Rolls Royce faces additional Trent 1000 engine issues
The bad news continues to spread for Rolls Royce and its Trent 1000. An additional 160+ engines are now subject to new inspections while airlines and passengers should expect growing disruptions as a result.
WestJet unveils 787 interior, flat-bed business class offering
It is just an artist rendering but we finally have a first peek at how the new WestJet 787 interiors will be fitted. With three classes of service, including fully lie-flat business class, it is a solid competitor, though not necessarily the “bold” play the company claims.
United Airlines’ new "Aspire" economy class seat takes flight
It was a busy week for United Airlines where the biggest news may have been lost in the shuffle. It isn’t as sexy as lie-flat seating but the new Aspire economy class seats now flying deliver some real improvements for passengers. And one significant drawback, too.
Handling the 787 Trent challenges
The Rolls Royce Trent 1000 Package C engines power nearly a quarter of the global Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. And they all need extra inspections. Here’s how a few airlines are dealing with the disruptions to their operations.
American’s 787 order: Big win – with challenges – for Boeing
American’s move to the 787 for its fleet refresh is a big win for Boeing and a blow to the A330neo program. But does it also pose challenges for Boeing’s NMA?