Welcome to the PaxEx Update for 5 July 2019, bringing you biggest headlines on what’s changed for passenger experience in the past week.
PaxEx
Deutsche Telekom introduces flat-rate pricing for inflight wifi
Last Fall Deutsche Telekom promised an integrated billing solution that would give its mobile phone customers easier access to the inflight connectivity solution on more than 200 Lufthansa Group aircraft. As of this week that promise is fulfilled. Customers subscribing to the new “Inflight Europa Flat” add-on package on their cell phone plan now receive seamless access to wifi on board the Group’s A320 family of planes.
Delta upgrades long-haul economy dining experience
Departure cocktails and mix-and-match choices are common features of premium cabin dining. Delta Air Lines is extending those concepts to its economy class passengers starting this November in a major shake-up for its meal service.
United expands stroopwafel catering
United Airlines has heard the stroopwafel pleas. After removing the Dutch treat from its cabins in mid-2018 the carrier reintroduced them in a limited fashion earlier this year. As of 1 July 2019, however, the snacks will be available for economy class passengers on every domestic flight, regardless of departure time.
SAS picks Inmarsat GX for A350 connectivity
The new A350-900 fleet for SAS will fly with the Inmarsat GX Aviation inflight wifi product when they are delivered beginning at the end of 2019. The full A350 fleet for the carrier is expected online by 2023.
Joon’s failure had nothing to do with millennial marketing
On Wednesday afternoon the Air France experiment known as Joon officially ceased operations. Reading the post-mortem analysis suggests that Joon’s failure can be attributed to misguided marketing. Alas, marketing was never the problem for Joon. Neither were millennials.
Norwegian goes gate-to-gate for inflight wifi connectivity
More passengers can spend more flight time online for free thanks to the latest inflight connectivity update from Norwegian Airlines. The carrier announced today that all of its connected aircraft now offer the service gate-to-gate rather than only above 10,000 feet.
AirFi announces a trio of new customers
Portable wireless IFE vendor AirFi secured three new customers in recent weeks, extending its leading role in the market. Air Arabia, Air Seychelles and Bamboo Airways will all fly the company’s kit, bringing entertainment services to passengers on board.
TravelSky plans rich content distribution with ATPCO’s Routehappy data
TravelSky is the latest airfare distribution provider to sign on for rich content from ATPCO’s Routehappy offerings. The move will add hundreds of millions of customers to the enhanced search results solutions.
A Staggering Certification: Molon Labe’s S1 cleared by FAA
Development complete. Customer contract signed. And now, another huge milestone as Molon Labe’s “S1” staggered short-haul economy seat receives FAA certification for use on commercial aircraft. The certification is the culmination of eight years of research, simulation and testing.