The inflight moving map is, by all accounts, the most popular entertainment content inflight. Air Canada, in partnership with FlightPath3d, now plans to use that same interface to inspire wanderlust, and perhaps a few extra ticket sales. The carrier is the launch customer for WhereWeFly, an interactive feature allowing passengers to explore routes and view flights while on board.
Panasonic Avionics Corporation
United joins T-Mobile’s free inflight WiFi program
United Airlines plans to offer free inflight WiFi to some T-Mobile customers beginning this fall.
Qatar Airways picks Inmarsat GX for Super Wi-Fi service on 787s, MAX 10s
Qatar Airways is not shy about shifting providers to make sure the services offered meet its standards. That the carrier shifted suppliers on for inflight WiFi on the 787-9 fleet to Inmarsat’s GX Aviation hardware on board is perhaps even more notable.
SkyFive secures further funding for network expansion
The technology is proven, with hundreds of aircraft connected across Europe. But building out a new in-flight connectivity platform and deploying it to an airline remains an expensive proposition. Global air-to-ground technology provider SkyFive plans to address that major challenge with a new round of funding.
airBaltic teases Starlink in-flight internet consideration
Forget detailed RFP cycles or convoluted consulting agreements. When it comes to considering SpaceX’s Starlink as a potential in-flight internet service provider airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss took to Twitter.
Panasonic Avionics announces trio of new senior executives
Two new executives are joining the senior ranks at Panasonic Avionics, and a third is getting a nice promotion. The company announced the changes as part of its drive to capture value from the broad recovery for the airline industry and sustained increases in passenger traffic.
Turkish goes gate-to-gate for in-flight internet
Turkish Airlines’ in-flight connectivity will now fly a bit longer. The carrier updated its systems to deliver gate-to-gate service across its fleet.
Lufthansa plans entertainment upgrade for 747-8i fleet
In a sign that the aircraft will keep flying for some years to come, Lufthansa will retrofit the in-flight entertainment hardware on its 747-8i fleet with the Panasonic Avionics NEXT platform.
Supply chain woes slow United’s single-aisle refresh
United Airlines remains confident in the overall trajectory of its Next single-aisle cabin refresh program. But in the short term supply chain issues are making the road to completion far more challenging than initially planned.
Southwest selects Viasat for future WiFi installs, adds power, too
Southwest Airlines selected Viasat’s next generation, Ka-band satellite in-flight connectivity (IFC) system on aircraft deliveries, starting this fall. New 737 MAX aircraft will see the Viasat kit installed by Boeing on the factory line, arriving at Southwest with the WiFi service ready to fly.