Connectivity
First Breeze plane with Viasat inflight Wi-Fi now flying
The first Breeze Airways plane with Wi-Fi on board is now flying. The A220-300 was fitted with the Viasat inflight internet service earlier this month and is now operating in beta mode as it flies within Breeze's network.
paxex.aero
ThinKom scores contract for conformal inflight antenna solution
It is possible to completely remove the drag factor of an inflight internet satellite antenna? While electronically steered antenna (ESA) solutions promise to further reduce protrusions on the fuselage and limit drag in their future implementations, a new military-focused design from ThinKom completely eliminates the radome bump.
paxex.aero
SmartSky boosts patent claims against Gogo
SmartSky's patent lawsuit against Gogo has grown. By increasing the number of patents at issue, SmartSky gains additional opportunities to win the suit; any one violation is sufficient for it to secure victory.
paxex.aero
Seamless Air Alliance , GSMA team to ease inflight internet provisioning
Linking a cell phone plan to inflight internet service could get a little easier, thanks to a new partnership between the Seamless Air Alliance and the GSMA.
paxex.aero
In-Flight Entertainment
Air Malta taps Bluebox for IFE platform
Air Malta will deploy the Blueview digital entertainment platform on its newest A320neo aircraft. The system from Bluebox Aviation Systems will be configured to offer Air Malta’s passengers an in-flight entertainment experience – entertainment, moving map, games, etc. – and will be deployed on a linefit Airbus Airspace Link installation.
paxex.aero
Cabin Design
Qantas refines its first class suites for Project Sunrise A350s
We're still nearly three years away from service launching, but Qantas continues to tease out how it plans to make 20+ hours on board comfortable for passengers flying on its longest routes.
paxex.aero
Other Industry News
Cathay Pacific taps Taipei, Vancouver for potential US traffic connections
The coming summer could see unusual traffic patterns for Cathay Pacific's traffic to and from the United States. It may operate flights via Taipei, as well as a Vancouver option, to move travelers between the US and Hong Kong in the coming summer.
paxex.aero
Breeze Blows Into Some Crowded Markets
Since Breeze began, it has focused its aircraft on primarily flying routes that have no or very limited competition. Last week, the airline rolled out more than 20 new routes, some of which have pretty heavy competition. This would appear to be a change of direction for the airline.
crankyflier.com
Boeing 787 Deliveries Halted Once More
Boeing has temporarily halted deliveries of 787s from its Charleston, South Carolina, production facility while it conducts additional analysis on the fuselage's forward pressure bulkhead.
The newest hold up to deliveries, which only resumed last August after a 14-month stoppage due to production quality issues, is another blow to Boeing’s hopes of returning to a production rate of five 787s per month later this year.
aviationweek.com
IAG Reaches New $422 Million Deal for Air Europa
International Airlines Group has reached a deal to acquire the rest of Air Europa for €400 million ($422 million) that it thinks will pass muster with European authorities.
airlineweekly.com