PaxEXtra

From the Control Tower

Ah, Paris. The sights, the history, the food. And, also, the inevitable transportation shitshow that is Salon de Bourget and the Paris Air Show.

But those troubles aside, the show offered up a few interesting PaxEx bits, including a new cabin unveiling for ANA, a new IFC terminal pan, and lots of conversations about UAM and eVTOL.

Connectivity

Safran, Greenerwave Team for Metasurfaces ESA Development

Safran Passenger Innovations is teaming with metasurfaces specialists Greenerwave to develop a new inflight Ka-band terminal compatible with the satellites of today as well as future GEO and NGSO constellations.

Royal Brunei Picks Intelsat for Inflight Internet

Royal Brunei Airlines will fit its A320neo fleet with broadband internet service, powered by Intelsat's multi-orbit connectivity solution.

In-Flight Entertainment

United Brings Spotify to In-seat IFE

At first glance the partnership announced between United Airlines and Spotify last week is relatively basic, even unimpressive. But come 2026 the companies have plans for something far more interesting on board.

Qatar Airways Pivots to PAC’s Converix, Astrova for 777X Digital Experience

Qatar Airways will implement Panasonic Avionics' Astrova IFE platform, running on its Converix on-board data and application hosting platform, for its upcoming 777X fleet.

Viasat Announces Comprehensive Agreement with Ligado Networks

A $568 million payout by next March, plus $16 million/quarter, increasing 3%/year through 2107, is a whole lot cash for Ligado to pay Viasat.

Cabin Design

"THE Room FX" Brings Business Class Update to ANA’s 787s

ANA's new 787-9 cabin features an impressively wide sofa-style, yin-yang layout. This is a step-change update from the existing offering, and incremental update to THE Room, currently flying on its 777-300ER fleet.

JSX Pitches Premium Turboprop Play

Some of the most bougie seats flying in the USA may soon be on some of the smallest planes. JSX announced plans to acquire a pair of ATS42-600 turboprops to expand its fleet at the 2025 Paris Air Show, fitted in an all-premium layout.

ANA pivots to sofa seat business with Safran The Room FX for 787-9

ANA's new sofa seat from Safran Seats, The Room FX, is incredibly impressive — even more so given that it will be on the 787-9, a complicatedly narrow widebody cabin.

Loyalty

Emirates, Uber Pursue Strategic Partnership

Emirates is the latest airline to announce an alignment with Uber, targeting loyalty points and other benefits.

Other Industry News

Eve Projects Three Billion eVTOL Riders Over 20 Years

Urban Air Mobility is a booming market, according to one of its largest proponents. But it will still be a tiny fraction of urban transport.

Ita Airways, the paradox of sacrifices imposed by the EU: at Linate more competition with Europe, less with Italy. And fares are rising

What if the market protection forces around a merger backfired? Perhaps it is too soon to judge, but initial indicators in Italy are not favorable.