Welcoming The Wandering Aramean

From the Control Tower

Welcome to Wandering Aramean followers

Many of you know me as the Wandering Aramean. For more than a decade I've shared news and told stories under that brand name. Over the past couple years, however, my focus shifted to the new PaxEx.Aero site. Seeing as how you were interested in that content before I'm hoping you're still interested in it today, even with the new name on the masthead.

Much of the content is the same, though my tales of fun (and occasionally stupid) travel adventures will remain exclusively on the old site. There's an unsubscribe link at the bottom if it turns out you're not so interesting in the passenger-related news any more, but I hope you'll all stick around for the fun adventures ahead.

Connectivity

Gogo sees a clear path to free WiFi on Delta

Often when someone says something is not about the money there's little doubt that it is entirely about the money. When it comes to delivering free WiFi for all of its passengers, however, Delta Air Lines' CEO Ed Bastian is probably telling the truth. It is not the cost of the service, but making sure the network can handle the dramatic uptick in demand. For Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne the reality is far more nuanced than that, and suggests that it really is just a matter of when, not if, his company can support the load.

Cabin Design

On board the new JetBlue A321neo

What's it like to fly on JetBlue's newest A321neo? Come along on board as I put it through the paces.

SAS selects Thompson for A321LR business class

Lie-flat for long-haul. Even on its new, smaller planes, that's the plan for SAS. Business class passengers will fly on the Thompson Vantage seat as the A321LR joins the carrier's fleet starting early next year.

Loyalty

Goodbye GPUs, Hello PlusPoints: United revamps elite upgrade scheme

United Airlines is adjusting the way its top MileagePlus elite members will pay for upgrades. And, at least to start, none of the upgrade costs are increasing.

Other Industry News

Hawaiian Airlines Basic Economy goes live; $30 increase to pax

The airline will insist that the move is about increasing options. But Hawaiian Airlines launched its Basic Economy fares in three markets today, resulting in a $30 fare increase to passengers.

This Airline Wants to Fly London-Bangkok in Short-Haul Jets

Will passengers go for back-to-back 7+ hour flights on a single-aisle plane when myriad twin-aisle or nonstop options exist? Kuwaiti LCC Jazeera wants to find out, as it seeks to connect Europe to Asia through its Middle East hub.

Virgin Atlantic’s incredible–and almost certainly impossible–plan to grow at Heathrow

Virgin Atlantic wants to grow at London's Heathrow airport. A lot. This is no secret, of course. The carrier has strongly endorsed a third runway at Britain's busiest airport for years, hoping to secure a significant boost to its landing slots portfolio should that finally come to pass. This week the company translated that drive into maps, hoping to generate public support for its plans. There's just one problem: It is almost certainly impossible for Virgin Atlantic to deliver what it is suggesting.

Exclusive: Boeing bid for Embraer unit faces EU antitrust probe - sources

This could be bad news for Boeing as the company's plan to ingest Embraer's commercial aircraft arm faces challenges. At a minimum, an investigation would delay the integration work, which won't help anyone on this side of the Atlantic.

LATAM takes Delta’s cash, bails on American, Oneworld

A major shake-up is underway in the Americas as LATAM bails on its long time partner American Airlines in favor of a significant financial investment (and JV that is more likely to get through the courts) from Delta Air Lines.