Glimpses into the recovery

Connectivity

Eutelsat boosts OneWeb stake

Eutelsat invested an additional $165 million in OneWeb during the latest funding round. The move boosts its share form 17.6% to 22.9%, making it the second largest shareholder, after Bharti.

Does an airline owe refunds for broken in-flight wifi?

Does an airline owe passengers a refund if their in-flight wifi doesn't deliver? Currently that answer is murky. And at least one connectivity provider objects to language used in US Department of Transportation efforts to enact some consumer protection rules around their services.

Plane Simple BizAv antenna launches from Satcom Direct, QEST

Business aviation integrator Satcom Direct completed testing of its new Plane Simple in-flight connectivity antenna solution, confirming full functionality of the kit across multiple satellites and geographies. Across three days of testing the aircraft flew for 16 hours, transitioning between three satellites on the Intelsat FlexExec network, including crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Status Check: Faster WiFi installing faster

How to get 300ish aircraft fitted with a new in-flight connectivity system in less than a year? Delta Air Lines and Viasat still intend to hit that target by the end of 2021, thanks to an aggressive schedule and cooperation between many parties.

Cabin Design

Plaza Premium expands footprint in UK by taking over Virgin Atlantic’s Gatwick lounge

It might look familiar, but that’s for good reason. Plaza Premium Group has just opened its latest lounge at London Gatwick Airport, taking over the space that was originally a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. This take-over reinforces the Group’s strategic presence in the United Kingdom and increases its foothold across the rest of Europe to six lounges with further openings scheduled for late 2021.

Other Industry News

Tata retakes Air India in privatization push

Nearly 70 years after Air India was nationalized, it will return to (a version of) its prior home. The government announced today that Tata Sons offered the successful bid for the privatization of the airline. The original operation was run by JRD Tata until the government took it over in 1953.

Corporate business travel 'carbon budgets' loom for airlines

As major companies look at drastic ways to cut carbon emissions from corporate travel, airlines are bracing for a major hit to business-class travel, a key revenue driver, industry executives and experts say.

Bamboo Airways delays US launch plans

Vietnam's Bamboo Airways now aims to launch service to the United States "at the end of December 2021." The carrier previously indicated a goal of Q3 2021, but still awaits approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate flights to the USA.

The British Airways A380 is back!

The British Airways A380 is officially coming back. The airline will use its largest aircraft to carry passengers to warm, sunny destinations as part of a significant rebound in long-haul service volume for the winter.