New beginnings

From the Control Tower

New cabin designs prep for flight, while new routes and planes try to get off the ground. Plus long-awaited details about a deal for more new Wi-Fi on board.

United's new single-aisle Polaris seat design details revealed in patent

A recently approved patent shows several key details of the new United Polaris single-aisle seat, including unique design elements which increase cabin density.

Connectivity

Gogo authorizes $50 million share buy-back

Gogo authorized share buy-backs up to $50 million this week as part of its commitment to return equity to shareholders.

Air Canada expands Intelsat partnership for in-flight Wi-Fi on 737 MAX, regional jets

Updated inflight internet systems are coming to Air Canada's 737 MAX and regional jets. In total, approximately 100 planes will see Intelsat's systems installed in the years ahead.

Volato picks SmartSky for HondaJet fleet

Travelers on Volato’s fleet of HondaJet aircraft will soon have access to SmartSky‘s inflight internet services.

Cabin Design

Hawaiian’s 787 flights now on sale

Hawaiian Airlines will launch regularly scheduled services on its new 787-9 fleet in April 2024. The carrier loaded the first flights for sale, serving routes between the Islands and the mainland west coast.

Diarrhea and vomit seats: Why planes are extremely gross right now

Vomit, poop, and more are way more part of the travel experience these days than they should be. What the heck is going on out there??

Other Industry News

Biman Bangladesh plans a return to New York

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is ready to return to the United States. And this time it plans to do so using its own aircraft from Dhaka, and significant losses along the way.

Airlines Race to Track Down Bogus Spare Parts That Infiltrated Fleet

Airlines and aircraft engine makers are racing to identify bogus spare parts that have infiltrated the global fleet via an obscure UK supplier, a potentially costly and complicated forensic endeavor affecting the world’s most widely flown passenger jets.

Boeing and top supplier under pressure as defect cuts jet deliveries, profits

“Armies of people” from Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems are working on a complicated repair that affects three-quarters of the 220 MAXs parked in inventory.

Lessor AerCap agrees settlement over Aeroflot jets stranded in Russia

The world's largest aircraft lessor has agreed to settle an insurance claim over Russia's refusal to return 17 jets leased to airline Aeroflot, a landmark agreement in a dispute over 400 Western planes stranded in the wake of the Ukraine invasion.