Connectivity
Ch-ch-changes atop Panasonic Avionics
The past few years have not been easy for top leadership at Panasonic Avionics Corporation (PAC) . Following a bribery scandal in 2017-2018 the company brought in many new executives, including CEO Hideo Nakano and CTO David Bartlett. Nakano departed that role in November 2019, replaced by Ken Sain. Bartlett is also no longer with the company, effective this month.
paxex.aero
ThinKom touts low-drag advantages in push for regional jet connectivity
Getting high-speed satellite-based internet service on to regional jets has proven an uphill battle to date. Antenna manufacturer ThinKom hopes its Ka2517 solution can help. The company released details of a study this week confirming its antenna can fly on smaller fuselages without dramatically increasing drag.
paxex.aero
Cabin Design
Swiss completes A340 retrofit with updated IFE/C suite
Passengers on the Swiss International Air Lines A340 fleet are now guaranteed to fly with the company's newest product. The carrier announced this week that the fifth and final aircraft completed its retrofits and returned to service.
The post Swiss completes A340 retrofit with updated IFE/C suite appeared first on PaxEx.Aero .
paxex.aero
Other Industry News
Boeing's huge 777-9X airplane takes its first flight
The world's longest and largest twin-engine airliner, the Boeing 777-9X, has finally taken to the skies for its maiden flight, offering a ray of hope for the troubled US aviation company following months of grim headlines.
The company is promising, among other things, a more comfortable 10-abreast passenger experience in economy class. Which is not to say that it will actually be comfortable, just a smidgen better than the current 10-abreast 777s.
cnn.com
SITAONAIR expands digital services scope with GTD Air Services acquisition
After partnering in the development of a digital weather awareness platform for pilots SITAONAIR announced this week that it will acquire GTD Air Services, bringing the operation fully in-house. The deal give a significant boost to the SITAONAIR Digital Day of Operations application portfolio. And tying it to inflight connectivity makes all sorts of things work better.
paxex.aero
Airbus brings A321 production to Toulouse, replacing A380 work
Out with the A380, in with the A321neo. Airbus announced its intention to convert its A380 Lagardère facility in Toulouse to a final assembly line for the spectacularly popular and well-selling A321neo. The transition is expected to occur by mid-2022.
paxex.aero
TripIt adds carbon emissions reporting, offset options
TripIt is expanding its travel tracking resources, adding carbon emissions to its suite of trip details.
paxex.aero
South African Airways suspends some flights as losses deepen
Weakness outside the US market killed off several airlines at the end of 2019 and 2020 is not starting great. Just a day after announcing "flights to all its destinations continue as normal" South African Airways made cuts to its operation. Domestic flights to Cape Town and Durban are affected, as is the Munich route.
paxex.aero