During the summer of 2019 JetBlue experimented with a new catering process that shifted the cart loads and allowed the company to restock planes less frequently. With nearly 120 test flights complete the company is declaring victory and moving forward with the plan. Before the end of the year expect to see catering trucks visit some JetBlue planes half as often. The news was confirmed by VP Inflight Ed Baklor in an internal video message shared with flight attendants this week.
economy class
PaxEx Update: APEX EXPO
Trade shows usually make for great insight into the future of the industry. This week’s APEX EXPO brought some of that to the surface, with news about seats, entertainment, connectivity and more. Here are some highlights.
Cabin-wide Bluetooth audio to fly in 2021
It is a product years in the making, with mentions at multiple prior trade shows. This week, for the first time, Safran confirmed that its Bluetooth headphones pairing solution will fly cabin wide on Lufthansa and ANA starting in 2021(ish).
New ad campaign, new service cuts for JetBlue
Balancing top-notch customer service and amenities and costs is a huge challenge for airlines. JetBlue’s structured cost-cutting program is starting to touch bits that passengers will experience and that could be bad news, especially juxtaposed against a backdrop of the company’s new ad campaign.
New challengers at every level: PaxEx Update 2019-08-30
New cabins on the horizon for economy and business class, short-haul and long; might travel get more comfortable rather than less? Plus some good news for travelers looking to get online in the sky or earn free travel with their points.
A look inside as the MC-21 aims to compete with Airbus, Boeing
The test aircraft are flying. The order book is growing. The Irkut MC-21-300 will compete with the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo for airline customers in the next decade and beyond. And, for the first time ever, we now know what the cabin interior will look like.
In search of premium: PaxEx Update (2019-08-23)
Where are the premium passengers at? United and Qantas are both pushing new projects that aim to deliver a compelling product and collect those higher yields. Plus a new inflight wifi solution hits an installation milestone and more!
Mirus reaches linefit milestone for Airbus A320 family
Seating manufacturer Mirus hit a major milestone this week, dispatching its first ship set of seats to Hamburg for installation on an aircraft at the Airbus factory. The seats are expected to be installed on the final assembly line at Finkenwerder next week, with first flight and customer (AirAsia) delivery shortly thereafter.
A Hong Kong Surprise: PaxEx Update (16 August 2019)
A surprise twist in the Hong Kong protests as Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg resigns. Plus RFID for bags, VR for passengers and new aircraft types launching service soon. A busy week with plenty to uncover in this edition of PaxEx Update!
Air Canada announces new A220 routes, unveils interior
Air Canada’s first A220 is working through the Airbus FAL in Mirabel as it nears delivery. The carrier released details on the interior design this week, as well as two new routes the type will launch next Spring.