Air Canada’s A321 fleet will soon fly with the Intelsat 2Ku in-flight internet solution. Under the agreement the carrier will upgrade its offering for 15 existing aircraft, while also taking 15 new deliveries with the system installed from the Airbus factory in Hamburg.
Intelsat
Starlink Scuttlebutt: Skepticism and Support
Nearly every conversation about in-flight connectivity at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022 in Hamburg this week includes mention of the SpaceX Starlink offering. Company executives are wandering the show floor carrying an antenna panel that they hope will soon be certified to fly, while airlines and competitors alike debate the unique path the company has chosen for nearly every facet of the offering.
Northern Pacific seeks public investors
Northern Pacific Airways is taking a somewhat unusual approach to funding ahead of its expected launch later this year. The carrier is running an open call to unaccredited investors, hoping to boost its visibility in the market, as well as its cash balance.
Feeling ESA pressures
As the next generation of in-flight connectivity technology starts to show signs of actually flying, where will the impact be felt the most?
Alaska Airlines launches $8 flat-rate in-flight WiFi
Fast in-flight WiFi. Fair pricing. But not quite free. That’s the proposition now on offer from Alaska Airlines, as it sets a flat-rate, $8 per flight price point for internet service across its fleet.
Two more ESAs prepare for flight
More electronically steered antenna (ESAs) solutions will be flying later this year. At least two more companies are looking to launch test flights of the new technology with a focus on eventually serving commercial aircraft.
FlexExec rebounds with new terminal from Satcom Direct
Don’t call it a comeback; FlexExec’s been here for years. Still, after laying low for a while, Intelsat and Satcom Direct are launching a new push into the business jet connectivity market, with high hopes for improved WiFi service on board.
Intelsat boosts 2Ku coverage with JSAT deal
Intelsat’s in-flight connectivity solution can offer more and faster coverage across Asia, thanks to a new partnership with Japanese satellite operator JSAT. Intelsat will use Ku-band capacity on the new JSAT-1C high throughput satellite to boost performance on board.
Streaming IFE, softer seats feature on Northern Pacific’s new interiors
With Northern Pacific aiming to launch trans-pacific flights via Anchorage later this year, what should passengers expect on board? Interiors work on the first aircraft is not yet complete, but the company shared some details on seating, entertainment, and dining options travelers can expect to see in service.
Intelsat rounds out ‘5G’ constellation with two more satellites ordered
The next generation of Intelsat’s network gained two more satellites this week. The company announced plans to deploy Intelsat 41 (IS-41) and Intelsat 44 (IS-44) in geosynchronous orbit by 2025, expanding coverage, capacity, and – most importantly – flexibility of the company’s network across the globe.