PaxEXtra

From the Control Tower

Another year, another EXPO week in Long Beach.

The show floor was smaller and quieter than in the past, and the integration between FTE, APEX and IFSA still needs work. But the three days in California also yielded some interesting conversations, enough that I'm still working through the backlog of stories this week (and probably next) as well.

Connectivity

ThinAir Plus partner picked

In an industry full of poorly kept secrets, confirmation of one has finally emerged. Since teasing the ThinAir Plus antenna concept at Satellite 2023 and confirming it at AIX 2023 ThinKom has been loathe to confirm an ESA antenna partner. Until now.

NSG signs Thai Airways, Turkish Airways for inflight internet

IFC upstart NEO Space Group now has two named customers, Airbus has its first SES-aligned customers for HBCplus, and passengers should soon have better internet on board.

Telesat moves to join Airbus HBCplus portfolio

The Telesat LEO network confirmed its intentions to participate in the Airbus HBPplus program, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus to integrate into the Ka-band network offerings.

Virgin Atlantic teases eventual free Wi-Fi on board

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss is keen to see free Wi-Fi on board his company's planes, assuming its providers can catch up.

Gulfstream secures STC for G650 Starlink installs

Starting today G650 owners can choose to add Starlink to their planes with the install handled directly by Gulfstream.

Hughes, Gogo Successfully Complete first ESA Flight Test Using LEO

The first Hughes ESA for the Gogo Galileo program, built by Hughes, has completed its test flight on a Bombardier Challenger 300.

In-Flight Entertainment

Copa adds wireless IFE with Inflight Dublin deal

Copa Airlines is bringing streaming video content to its fleet thanks to a deal with Inflight Dublin. The latter's Everhub wireless IFE solution will be deployed fleet-wide across the Panamanian carrier's 737 fleet.

Delta boosts moving map accessibility with FlightPath3D update

Delta Air Lines‘ inflight maps are getting an accessibility overhaul, thanks to FlightPath3D. The airline is the launch customer for the Accessibility Map, a deal announced at APEX EXPO in Long Beach, CA.

FlytEDGE to fly on Qatar Airways A321neo fleet

The next generation of Qatar Airways planes will fly with the latest generation of inflight entertainment, as the carrier selects Thales' FlytEDGE for its A321neo fleet.

Moment buys in to inflight duty free growth with Airfree acquisition

Consolidation has come in the inflight retail space as digital services provider Moment acquires e-commerce expert to boost its duty free offerings.

Cabin Design

EvenMore coming to JetBlue in (mild) premium revamp

JetBlue is rebranding its extra legroom product once again. It shall be known as EvenMore going forward, with features beyond physical space to be announced soon and to fly in 2025.

Other Industry News

Final objections filed on DCA slot allocation

Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue lodged objections with the US Department of Transportation over the assignment of new long-distance slots at DCA. The three carriers were the losers in the recent allocation proceedings.

Small airport subsidy winners announced

Fourteen smallish airports will share $12 million in federal funding over the next five years to support growth of their commercial air service. The awards were announced on Thursday as part of the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP).