The OneWeb constellation moved significantly closer to completion this week, with a successful launch and a $550 million investment secured from Eutelsat.
in flight
KLM unveils refreshed 737-800 interiors
The first of 14 refreshed KLM 737-800s returned to service this week with a brand new cabin interior. New seats, overhead bins, and other passenger-friendly features greet travelers on board.
On board the JetBlue A220 inaugural
Since the day it was introduced the A220 (nee CSeries) was described as a game-changer for the industry. JetBlue is about to find out just how well it works. The aircraft entered service on Monday and is a solid offering on which the company is slated to grow in the years ahead.
KLM launches short-haul in-flight connectivity with Viasat
KLM’s short-haul WiFi service went live this week, just under six months after the carrier announced plans to update the fleet. The first two aircraft with the Viasat Ka-band satellite connectivity officially activated for passengers, with a free week before the regular, three-tier pricing plans kick in.
Gogo prices new debt, anticipates huge savings
Gogo announced its long-awaited debt refinancing deal this afternoon, a move that should deliver huge savings for the company. The move allows the company to retire a billion dollars of high-interest debt, reducing both the total leverage and the rate paid.
Turkish scales back MAX fleet plans
Turkish Airlines is the latest carrier to adjust its 737 MAX order book, and the news is not good for Boeing. The carrier’s restructured order includes cancelations, conversion to options, and deferral of future deliveries for the single-aisle aircraft.
United bringing AVOD update in interiors retrofit
In a nod to a more generous in-seat entertainment experience, United Airlines plans an AVOD upgrade for at least part of its single-aisle fleet. In a message to employees on Thursday Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist indicated that an interior retrofit is on the way for “our older narrow-body airplanes, putting in new bins, AVOD, and new seats.”
Gogo, TMobile crack down on WiFi freeloaders
The recovery of passenger traffic in the domestic US market continues to show strength. As travelers return, however, they will notice many changes to the in-flight experience. Among those changes, a shift in the way some inflight connectivity subscriptions operate.
Next Gen ATG 5G moves forward in China
Getting a 5G air-to-ground network into service in the USA is a tough task, with schedules continuing to slip and questions about the hardware involved. But in China the new services are expected to launch soon, and expand quickly. Powered by Chinese manufacturer ZTE, a new network could be online in a matter of months.
Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network wins big in ECJ ruling
After years of escalating appeals and conflicting decisions the European Court of Justice handed down the ultimate decision today: Inmarsat’s European Aviation Network (EAN) is legal.