PaxEXtra

From the Control Tower

Inaugural flights are a wonderful experience. They're celebrations of potential and the culmination of much planning. They also, however, come with risk. Despite all the planning and forecasting, there's no guarantee that a new route will prove financially successful.

These circumstances were readily apparent in Iqaluit late last month, as Air Greenland reestablished services between Northern Canada and Greenland after a decade's absence. Greenland depends heavily on aviation for connectivity to the rest of the world. It also faces unprecedented change as the ice cap shrinks, driven by climate change.

It is an incredible place to visit, and I'm fortunate that my work in this industry afforded me the opportunity to do so. But vacation time is now over, and we're back to bringing the news of aviation to your inbox and more.

Connectivity

Seeking ESA synergies with Gilat, Stellar Blu

Digging deeper into some of the assumptions and potential for a combined Gilat/Stellar Blu after last week's announced buy out plans.

Cabin Design

Delta teases "Basic Business" in push for revenue boost

Delta may be next to unbundle services in the pointy end of the plane The carrier teased the concept during its Q2 2024 earnings call this week.

JetBlue drops suite doors on some Mint flights

JetBlue will disable the Mint Suite doors on its A321neo fleet. The move comes after the carrier previously adjusted staffing for the flights.

Loyalty

Delta, Riyadh Air launch exclusive strategic partnership

Delta Air Lines and Riyadh Air will pursue a broad range of customer-facing benefits as exclusive partners in their respective geographies.

Other Industry News

Air Greenland reconnects to Canada with broader ambitions

This is not a vanity route, nor is it a niche service. Air Greenland's return to Iqaluit, Canada after nearly a decade away is based on a plan to connect both local cultures from the north and tourists from the south.

Airbus A321XLR Arrival Could Disrupt Long-Haul Networks

A great breakdown on certification progress for the A321XLR and its future in the industry.

Airlines vie for long-haul slots at DCA

A feeding frenzy is afoot as airlines file for their desired flights from Washington, DC's close-in airport.

Boeing accepts plea deal to avoid criminal trial over 737 Max crashes, Justice Department says

The Justice Department says Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. The $243.6mm fine is chump change at this point for Boeing. And there's almost no chance the US government is going to wholly exclude the company from defense contracts.

Maybe this is better than a trial, and the best the government can get. But it hardly seems like enough.

Fiji Airways plans DFW service

Fiji Airways plans to add DFW to its route map. The carrier, which also recently announced plans to adopt the AAdvantage loyalty program, now plans to add connectivity to American's largest hub.