After a decade of work to develop and deliver a new, high speed inflight connectivity solution SmartSky is halting operations.
IFEC
Qaviar and Qids: Qatar Airways boosts a pair of travel experiences
Qatar Airways will add a caviar (Qaviar??) service in its business class cabin, plus a kid-friendly update to its moving maps.
Etihad picks AirFi for A320 streaming IFE
Etihad is adding inflight entertainment for part of its A320 fleet, but the carrier will stop short of installing screens on board, opting for AirFi’s wireless IFE platform instead.
Viasat adds SES-17 capacity for IFC boost
With just 10% of ViaSat-3 F1 available, Viasat has found partners to help support its growing inflight internet program. SES-17 is now confirmed as one of the satellites in play.
American’s first satellite Wi-Fi CR7 is back in service
The first plane plane purposefully fitted for multi-orbit inflight internet service is back in service. The CRJ-700, operated by SkyWest for American Eagle, has completed its installation program and is carrying passengers once again.
SES, ThinKom expand testing for multi-orbit inflight connectivity
SES and ThinKom received approval this week from the FCC to conduct terrestrial testing of the Ka2517 terminal against the O3b constellation, joining a similar approval issued for testing against SES-17 in July. And there’s more to follow.
ViaSat-3 enters service, delivering inflight internet on Hawaii flights
The first ViaSat-3 satellite is now in service, providing increased capacity for the company’s airline customers, most notably including roughly 2400 monthly trips between Hawaii and the mainland.
Multi-orbit connectivity now flying on regional jets
The first commercial aircraft to be fitted with the Intelsat multi-orbit solution, featuring the Gilat/Stellar Blu Sidewinder terminal has left the installation facility and appears to be headed towards entry into passenger service.
Embraer plans satellite connectivity for E175s
As demand for inflight internet service continues to expand, Embraer is taking steps to ensure its aircraft are not left behind. During FIA2024 the manufacturer announced plans to facilitate satellite connectivity on the E175s by 2026.
Turkish plans free inflight Wi-Fi
Turkish Airlines is promising “free and unlimited Wi-Fi to our entire fleet by the end of 2025.” The reality, however, is slightly more complicated.