From the Control Tower
The 737 MAX has dominated aviation news for more than six months now, as its grounding exposed problems throughout the design and certification process. The latest salvos include lawsuits and whistle blower accusations. None of this is good for the industry, unless it triggers significant shifts in the way aircraft design and certification is managed.
As Boeing works to bring the type back into service on a global scale there are many lessons to be learned. The real question is if the industry will or not.
PaxExTRA by PaxEx.Aero
Connectivity
Lufthansa Technik dives in to the Chinese inflight connectivity market
Announcements related to inflight connectivity in China are hard to process. Vendors continue to sign agreements and push out releases but forward progress in terms of getting hardware on planes remains stalled. This week Lufthansa Technik (LHT) joined the field with an announcement of an offering for airlines in China. But, like the others, it is unclear what the timeline for implementation will be or where things will go from here.
paxex.aero
A slow inflight wifi transition for Vietnam Airlines
Yes, Vietnam Airlines (re)activated wifi on some of its A350s last week. No, it is not the high-speed offering many are claiming, even if that might be coming eventually.
paxex.aero
Cabin Design
SpiceJet starts removing Business Class from ex-Jet Airways aircraft
The race to get Jet Airways' grounded planes back into service meant minimal changes to the interior or exterior as the new operators pressed them into service. As the dust settles, however, it appears that the airlines are getting to their nominal configurations.
boardingarea.com
Loyalty
United Airlines Making Bold Changes To How You Earn Status
Money talks. That's been obvious in the airline loyalty world for some time now. United Airlines is choosing 2020 as its target for passengers to prove it.
boardingarea.com
Other Industry News
United’s new CRJ550 seats on sale this weekend
Go big or go home! United Airlines is launching its newly configured CRJ550 type on 15(!!) routes at the end of the month, with tickets now on sale for travel at the end of the month.
paxex.aero
An NMA alternate: Boeing’s potential 767-X
What happens when you take an existing, reasonably successful aircraft type and just add new engines? And what if Boeing does it again to launch the 767-X, shelving the NMA program in its wake??
paxex.aero
Biometrics expand in Asia, Europe and the Middle East
Where will travelers find biometric systems next? As the technology continues to evolve and expand new airport implementations are coming online around the globe. Here are a trio of recent activations that span the range of services and values to passengers.
paxex.aero