Connectivity
Delta’s first Viasat-equipped plane goes live
Delta Air Lines will launch its new, Viasat-powered in-flight connectivity era this weekend. The first A321ceo equipped with the Ka-band satellite connectivity gear entered regular scheduled service on 1 May.
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Viasat closes on KA-SAT buy-out
Viasat now owns 100% of the KA-SAT satellite providing service over Europe. The company closed today on its purchase of Euro Broadband Infrastructure Sàrl ("EBI"), the wholesale broadband services business created as part of Viasat's former partnering arrangement with Eutelsat Communications.
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JetBlue’s A220 Fly-Fi: A bit different behind the scenes
Fast, free, FlyFi wifi on board every flight is a key value proposition from JetBlue. The carrier's new A220 fleet features the same Viasat-powered satellite connectivity as the older aircraft, but how it came to be on the planes is a bit different from prior deliveries.
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Eutelsat makes major LEO commitment with OneWeb investment
The OneWeb constellation moved significantly closer to completion this week, with a successful launch and a $550 million investment secured from Eutelsat.
The post Eutelsat makes major LEO commitment with OneWeb investment appeared first on PaxEx.Aero .
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In-Flight Entertainment
Personalization and Privacy: Challenges on the JetBlue A220 AVANT IFE
JetBlue made clear a while ago that in-seat screens are here to stay. The company's brand new A220 fleet includes 10.1 inch, 1080P high definition screens at every seat. And the product improvement with the A220 is massive compared to the E190s it replaces.
But the offering also includes some privacy challenges related to the personalization efforts JetBlue is implementing in partnership with the IFE vendor Thales.
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Global Eagle shifts to subscriptions with Iris content services
In-flight entertainment content powerhouse Global Eagle is officially in the content subscription game. The company launched Iris, a cost-effective inflight entertainment (IFE) subscription service for airlines, seeking to change the way content is sourced and managed for on-board consumption.
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Cabin Design
KLM unveils refreshed 737-800 interiors
The first of 14 refreshed KLM 737-800s returned to service this week with a brand new cabin interior. New seats, overhead bins, and other passenger-friendly features greet travelers on board.
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On board the JetBlue A220 inaugural
Since the day it was introduced the A220 (nee CSeries) was described as a game-changer for the industry. JetBlue is about to find out just how well it works. The aircraft entered service last Monday and is a solid offering on which the company is slated to grow in the years ahead.
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Loyalty
Big elite earning boost from United (but it’s probably not your best option)
Nearly half way to elite status with just one flight? That's what United Airlines is offering to members of its MileagePlus program with the new Pick Your Path promotion. And it might not be the best choice for every member.
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Other Industry News
Nature as a role model: Lufthansa Group and BASF roll out sharkskin technology
The lower the frictional resistance of an aircraft in the air, the lower the fuel consumption. Using nature as a role model, the aviation industry has been intensively researching ways to reduce aerodynamic drag for many years. Now Lufthansa Technik and BASF have succeeded in making the breakthrough as part of a joint project. AeroSHARK, a surface film that mimics the fine structure of a shark's skin, is to be rolled out on Lufthansa Cargo's entire freighter fleet from the beginning of 2022, making the aircraft more economical and reducing emissions.
lufthansa-technik.com
Delta Air Lines and Sabre sign transformative agreement to drive value creation
“Our vision is to shift the mindset of the entire ecosystem toward modern retailing, selling customers what they want, where they want it and how they want it across all channels,” said Delta’s Jeff Lobl, Managing Director - Global Distribution. “We are grateful to Sabre for their innovative and pioneering spirit in taking this journey with Delta and establishing a new and exciting path forward for third-party distribution.”
delta.com
Vistara plans US launch in September
The Vistara 787s could be flying to the USA later this year. The carrier applied to the US DOT for permission to operate service as soon as September.
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Sun Country breaks from its hub model in the Upper Midwest
Travelers will have more opportunities to escape the Upper Widwest this coming winter as Sun Country expands its route offerings. The Minneapolis-based carrier will add 9 new airports and 18 routes overall, including 10 where the carrier is the only non-stop service in the market.
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