June 2nd 2020

Connectivity

Viasat expands with Aeromexico, sees massive potential in LEO subsidies

Viasat reported its annual results this afternoon with record revenue. The company also announced a couple surprises, with a new wide-body airline customer for its inflight connectivity solution and a change of plans for its future satellite constellation.

Loyalty

Leadership Interview: Qatar Airways & Mastercard on Monetizing Data

Airlines and their Loyalty Programs are facing renewed pressure to be the heroes of the airline comeback story — and rightly so — airline elite members spend more, buy more frequently, and are less concerned about global events than leisure travellers.

Other Industry News

Embraer says China, India are potential partners after failed Boeing deal

Left standing at the altar by Boeing, Embraer is back on the market and looking for a new partner to help support its commercial aircraft business. Will China or India deliver that suitor for the company??

JetBlue plans return of international markets in June

JetBlue's international route network virtually disappeared as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapidly shifting entry requirements and limited demand forced dozens of markets to close. Headed into June, however, the company sees some signs of optimism and opportunity as it anticipates reopening 13 destinations.

Boeing resumes 737 MAX production at low rate

Boeing is confident in the future of the 737 MAX line, enough so that it is building the aircraft again. After taking a break of several months the company resumed production in Renton, albeit at a "low rate" of aircraft.

Frontier, Mobile bicker over flights to Orlando

At first glance the fight between Mobile, Alabama and Frontier Airlines makes little sense. Why should a city fight so hard for a single flight and route running empty a couple days per week?

American Airlines seeks buyouts of thousands of workers

Thousands of American Airlines employees face a difficult decision in the coming weeks. Federal payroll support funding is running out and some 17,000 employees must now decide if they're willing to take a buy-out package from the company or risk being laid off.

The company joins Delta, United and Southwest as all of the "Big Four" are seeking to slash headcount.

The CRJ is dead; long live the CRJ, err MRJ, err SpaceJet. Or something like that.

Today was supposed to be a celebration for Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI), the dawning of a new era for its SpaceJet regional jet program. Instead the company is drastically cutting operations and development efforts as the market contracts. But it still must move forward in some ways.