Connectivity
UK sees “substantial lessening of competition” risk in proposed Viasat/Inmarsat merger
Their overlap in the inflight connectivity segment could derail the proposed merger between Viasat and Inmarsat. UK regulators announced plans to further investigate the competitive impact of the deal.
ThinKom, Inmarsat Global partner for military connectivity boost
Inflight connectivity comes with special needs when military aircraft are involved. ThinKom and Inmarsat Government have teamed up to address those challenges, with a new modem/antenna combination to support DoD activity around the globe.
Seeking a connected aircraft timeline
For nearly a decade the promise of reduced maintenance delays and operational savings has been a core factor in pitching airlines on inflight internet service. And for roughly that same period of time airlines have been wondering if those connected aircraft benefits will ever really arrive.
In-Flight Entertainment
easyJet snags AirFi for digital inflight transformation
easyJet is the latest airline to shift its on-board retail experience to a digital solution. The carrier selected the AirFi platform as the hardware backbone to power its new inflight shopping platform.
Loyalty
Planies launch airBaltic Club into the NFT loyalty world
Subscription products are a booming segment for the air travel industry. Sprinkle in a dash of Web3 and the airBaltic Planie NFT collection comes to life.
Aeroplan, Avis partner for status match, with a co-brand twist
Air Canada's Aeroplan elite status holders can now request a complimentary status upgrade in the Avis Preferred® program, extending the value of the status earned to rental cars as well.
airBaltic adds Air France, KLM as reward partners
The airBaltic club loyalty program now reaches almost everywhere in the world. Thanks to a new partnership with Air France and KLM, members can both earn and redeem points for travels with the two larger airlines. Though, like with most such deals, there are some notable limitations.
Other Industry News
Airlines see a renewed digital transformation push from IATA
IATA boss Willie Walsh called out digital transformation as a key focus for airlines as they seek to reduce staffing pressures which are limiting their ability to restore capacity against strong travel demand.
Historic partnership between the WestJet Group and the Government of Alberta sets foundation for future of aviation growth across province
WestJet Group designates Calgary as its exclusive global connecting hub, and will concentrate all 787 Dreamliner intercontinental flying to YYC Calgary International Airport
Looking Beyond NPS as a customer satisfaction metric
Is there a smarter way to analyze online sentiments to address customer issues? Beyond believes its Acutal Promoter Score can replace the long-trustd NPS as a key metric for airlines.