Global Eagle is “back in the rapid innovation game.” That was the message delivered last month at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2018 in Hamburg, Germany. And some of the IFE developments definitely fit that mold.
inflight entertainment
JetBlue’s new A320 takes flight
New seats, new screens and more live television took flight one JetBlue this week. The first of the restyled A320 planes is now in service, delivering upgraded amenities. And 12 extra seats on board.
Are UON? New entrants launch inflight connectivity options
Commercial success in the inflight connectivity business is anything but easy. That isn't stopping newcomers from trying. Saudi Arabia's Taqnia Space group launched the UON offering earlier this month and it has potential. But like other offerings in the market there are questions about how well it can scale up to meet demand (both bandwidth and profits).
The Hi Fly A380 is real!
European charter specialist Hi Fly really is going to operate the A380. The company confirmed today that it will have the 471-seat aircraft in its fleet by mid-year. And it should be a pretty nice ride, too.
Shifting gears: Gogo’s push to connect more passengers
What good is having an inflight wifi connectivity product if no one is using it? Gogo sits flush with satellite capacity and is pushing to increase take rates (and revenue) up dramatically on its platform.
Thales, HNA Group deal, but will it really fly?
Thales is the latest IFE/C vendor to partner with Chinese conglomerate HNA Group to deliver entertainment and connectivity services on board. But will they really fly? Concerns about the financial stability of HNA raise significant concerns about the long-term viability of the offerings.
GOL, Gogo add live TV service
More live TV is now flying in South America. Brazilian airline GOL and Gogo agreed to launch Gogo TV this year on the carrier’s fleet of 119 737s.
Korean’s new CS300 delivers CSeries PaxEx firsts
Korean Air Lines took home an early Christmas present today, with its first CSeries delivery from Bombardier. The carrier is the third to fly the CS300 and introduces a few new features on board to improve the passenger experience.
ANA brings free internet to flights
Looking for free inflight internet connectivity? Japan appears the place to be. ANA will add free internet service on the bulk of its domestic fleet in 2018, delivering more connectivity on more domestic routes than any other carrier in Japan.
Delta’s massive new aircraft order is not all about the planes
Delta and Airbus announced a deal today for at least 100 new A321neo aircraft to be delivered in the first half of the next decade. And, believe it or not, the most significant factor in that decision might not be the planes.








