“Our providers say they’re meeting our contracted service level agreement (SLA), but our customers say the performance isn’t there. Something doesn’t add up.” What are inflight connectivity SLAs measuring, and can they be used to hold suppliers accountable? Or should they be dispensed with completely?
Intelsat
Panasonic Avionics highlights Stellar Blu antenna for OneWeb LEO service
Last week Panasonic Avionics finally confirmed low earth orbit constellations are officially part of its product road map, in partnership with OneWeb. This week at the APEX EXPO conference in Long Beach, California the company is offering up additional details on how the new capacity will fit into its offerings, and how it expects planes will be connected to the new satellites.
Air Canada boosts A220 fleet plan
Air Canada will add another 15 A220-300 aircraft to its fleet. The carrier announced it will exercise options expanding its commitment to 60 A220s, with 31 currently in service.
Alaska Airlines MAXes out with updated order book
Alaska Airlines will add 52 more 737 MAX to its fleet over the next five years, the largest single aircraft commitment in its history. The carrier exercised all of the options it held from its landmark December 2020 Boeing order, with deliveries due through 2027.
Virgin Australia picks 2Ku for Wi-Fi boost
With aims of profitability by mid-2023, Virgin Australia is ready to bring back inflight Wi-Fi for its fleet. The carrier announced plans to (re)activate the Intelsat 2Ku system on board.
OneWeb successfully orbits 36 more satellites
OneWeb added 36 more satellites to its constellation over the weekend, bringing the total to 462 Gen 1 satellites in orbit.
Panasonic Avionics, OneWeb team for inflight internet service
Panasonic Avionics (PAC) will add low earth orbit satellites to its inflight internet offerings, thanks to a partnership with OneWeb. The long-expected distribution agreement will enable PAC to market, sell, and support OneWeb’s high-speed, low-latency LEO in-flight broadband services to commercial airlines worldwide.
Starlink Aviation opens up for BizAv orders
Starlink for business aviation is officially on the market, coinciding with the NBAA 2022 conference in Orlando. The company is now accepting orders for the inflight internet service, with hardware to ship in 2023.
TIM, Intelsat team up for free 2Ku inflight internet in Brazil
Subscribers on Brazil’s largest mobile phone company network now can access inflight internet for free. TIM Black and TIM Black Família customers can now browse, message, and more on domestic and international flights operated by GOL and LATAM, thanks to a partnership with Intelsat.
What’s under that radome?
Regional jets, for the most part, do not offer satellite-based internet services on board. The hardware is typically considered too large for the fuselage, and too heavy for the smaller planes. But it is not impossible. And another carrier now seems to be trying it out.