Connectivity
Southwest selects Viasat for future WiFi installs
Southwest Airlines selected Viasat's next generation, Ka-band satellite in-flight connectivity (IFC) system on aircraft deliveries, starting this fall. New 737 MAX aircraft will see the Viasat kit installed by Boeing on the factory line, arriving at Southwest with the WiFi service ready to fly.
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In-Flight Entertainment
Supply chain woes slow United’s single-aisle refresh
United Airlines remains confident in the overall trajectory of its Next single-aisle cabin refresh program. But in the short term supply chain issues are making the road to completion far more challenging than initially planned.
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EL AL plans Bluebox WOW deployment for 737 streaming entertainment stopgap
EL AL plans a shift in its in-flight entertainment strategy, at least in the short term. The carrier signed an agreement to deploy the Bluebox WOW streaming IFE platform across its fleet of 26 737s the company ramps up its recovery.
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Sponsored Link
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Cabin Design
Air France brings suite doors to 777-300ER business class cabin
Air France plans to retrofit a dozen 777-300ER aircraft, including a new business class seat with privacy doors. The cabin retrofit is part of the carriers efforts to "move upmarket" and "offer its customers the best of France and take elegance to new heights."
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Loyalty
Star Alliance credit card coming this fall
Why would an airline alliance launch a loyalty credit card? The obvious answer is money. Co-brand credit cards are massive drivers of revenue for airlines. But historically that has applied at the airline level, not at the alliance level. Star Alliance will change that later this year when the group launches its own card.
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Other Industry News
JetBlue furthers Summer route cuts to boost reliability
JetBlue will further trim its Summer 2022 schedule. The carrier plans "further tweaks" to the network, in response to elevated fuel prices and in support of its reliability goals.
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FAA finds Boeing 787 certification documents incomplete, sources say
U.S. air-safety regulators have told Boeing the documentation it submitted to win approval to resume 787 deliveries to airlines after a year is incomplete.
cnbc.com
Republic seeks waiver on 1,500 hour rule for pilots
With the pilot shortage challenge becoming ever more acute, regional carrier Republic Airways is looking for a different way to get more pilots into its operations. The carrier filed an application with the US Federal Aviation Administration last month seeking permission for pilots with 750 hours of flight experience – half the current requirement – to be licensed as a Restricted Air Transport Pilot (R-ATP), eligible to operate commercial service for the company.
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Lufthansa adds 787-9s as 777X delivery delays drag on
With delivery timing on its 777X fleet still uncertain, Lufthansa is turning to the 787-9 to help backfill missing capacity. The carrier added seven new passenger aircraft to its order book, while also expanding its Boeing freighter operations.
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REGENT Announces a Strategic Investment from Hawaiian Airlines
REGENT announced that Hawaiian Airlines has agreed to strategically invest in the company to support the initial design of its next generation 100-person capacity all-electric seaglider known as the Monarch.
hawaiianairlines.com