Add another half dozen planes to the backlog, and a new type for Viasat’s inflight connectivity platform. EL AL will fit its 777 fleet with the Ka-band wifi service in the coming year.
inflight connectivity
A WiFi Challenger: PaxEx Update 1 Nov 2019
Can LiFi replace WiFi on board, opening up more spectrum for passengers? And can new satellite launches deliver the capacity that airlines need for inflight connectivity? Plus an expanding award chart and plans for a massive fleet expansion in India.
LiFi takes flight with Air France, Latécoère
Move over WiFi; LiFi is now flying. Delivering on a promise made during the Paris Air Show Air France and hardware supplier Latécoère operated the LiFi (Light Fidelity) system on board a commercial flight this week, bringing a new means for high speed data transmission into service.
Eutelsat plans more Ku-band capacity; Gogo signs on for increased service
More Ku-band capacity is coming on line over Europe, the North Atlantic and Middle East in 2022. Eutelsat will launch 10B, a replacement for its existing 10A satellite, delivering a significant boost to capacity. Gogo is a committed customer for the new satellite and others are also in the wings.
United Airlines’ 50-seat RJ refresh will not include IFE/C…Yet!
With the United Express ERJ-145 slated for a full interiors refresh starting in early 2020 is now time for entertainment and wifi to also take flight on the company’s smallest jets? It seems likely, even if that bit was not supposed to be public just yet.
Vueling gets online with Inmarsat’s EAN connectivity
Flying an LCC in Europe no longer means being disconnected while in the sky. IAG’s Vueling operation soft-launched inflight wifi connectivity delivered via the European Aviation Network (EAN), powered by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom, on five of its aircraft earlier this month. Vueling is the third EAN airline and the first LCC with the service.
What to expect on board as United’s new CRJ550 takes flight
Removing nearly 30% of the seats from an aircraft is guaranteed to make the remaining product a more comfortable experience. Still, until United Airlines opened up its new CRJ550 to passengers over the weekend it was not clear just how much better the on board passenger experience would be. This plane is a big win, and not just for first class passengers.
Live from the CRJ550: PaxEx Update 25 Oct 2019
United’s newest aircraft type takes flight this week and the CRJ550 interior really is as special as the company has been hyping. Airbus orders and Boeing delays plus some fancy new wifi and upgraded airports on the horizon. Another busy PaxEx week.
Hawaiian pushes off inflight WiFi decision
Hawaiian Airlines will add inflight wifi to its fleet. Eventually. But not particularly soon. CEO Peter Ingram does not believe the technology is sufficiently mature to serve his airline’s customers, but has he missed out on viable solutions already on the market?
SES, Thales, Thinkom raise the bar on inflight connectivity performance with GEO/MEO blend
Blending GEO and MEO satellites delivers a hybrid of coverage, performance, and cost that is hard to beat. SES, Thales, HughesNet, and Thinkom are on the cusp of delivering a commercially-viable solution in this space.