Depending on who you ask – and I asked several people at at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 last month – ESAs are the best way forward for inflight connectivity, or a compromise that come up short for airlines.
LEO
Thales, Spire, ESSP team for space-based ADS-B constellation
Thales, Spire Global, and European Satellite Services Provider plan to launch a new, space-based network for tracking aircraft.
Shifting install sequencing
Will airlines hit their 2025 target to replace the inflight internet services on smaller planes in North America? Probably. But the sequence and timing on those appears to be shifting a bit.
ThinKom sees trio of innovations driving growth
Not content to rest on recent program wins, ThinKom outlined the future it sees for its antenna solutions.
Intelsat, JAL partner on LEO/GEO connectivity
Japan Airlines will continue its inflight connectivity partnership with Intelsat, adding service on its 737 MAX fleet from 2026. This deal, however, comes with a multi-orbit twist.
Increased supplier option a Plus
Should airlines be concerned that the Airbus HBCplus program limits their options for inflight connectivity? Perhaps not, as reports suggest additional supplier optionality on the horizon.
Bluebox, FFLYA team for real time inflight payments processing
Airlines looking for a low-cost way to process credit card payments in real time have a new option to consider. On-board digital platform provider Bluebox has teamed with FFLYA to deliver payment processing via the Iridium Certus network.
Viasat goes multi-orbit for maritime with NexusWave
Multi-orbit, multi-band connectivity has come to the Viasat ecosystem. Maritime is up first, setting the stage for what the aero version might look like.
Delta taps Neuron for IFC insights
Delivering free inflight internet to passengers across a fleet of more than 750 aircraft is no easy task. To help track the passenger experience – and ensure service quality meets contracted levels – Delta Air Lines has contracted with Neuron to deliver performance insights across its connected fleet.
Talking terminals: Multi-beam options for multi-orbit support
LEO-based Iis still in its early days, but the era of truly multi-orbit, multi-constellation services beckons. That next generation of services will require a new generation of hardware to unlock its full potential.