Viasat and SpaceX Announce Successful ViaSat-3 F3 Launch
Viasat and SpaceX announced the successful launch of the ViaSat‑3 F3 satellite aboard a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center’s historic LC‑39A. The satellite is now on its trajectory to geostationary orbit, roughly 35,786 km above Earth. Once operational later this year, ViaSat‑3 F3 will contribute more than one terabit per second of Ka‑band capacity to Viasat’s network across the Asia‑Pacific region. The launch underscores both Viasat’s expansion of its high‑throughput satellite fleet and SpaceX’s continued role as a commercial launch provider.
Jamco Interiors Names Proponent Exclusive Global Distributor for Aftermarket Spares
Jamco Interiors has appointed Proponent as its exclusive global distributor for aftermarket spare parts, initiating a phased rollout this year with full capability slated for early 2027. The partnership lets Jamco concentrate on engineering and product development while Proponent leverages...
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Virgin Atlantic Accelerates Starlink Rollout with Free High-Speed Wi-Fi Across Fleet
Virgin Atlantic is accelerating its rollout of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet, beginning installations on its A350 fleet in May with full A350 coverage expected by early summer. The airline will extend the free, high‑speed Wi‑Fi to its 787 and A330neo...
SSP Opens Flax Soda at Belfast International Airport with Focus on Local Flavors
SSP Group has launched Flax & Soda, a 280‑seat casual‑dining venue in Belfast International Airport’s newly refurbished Departures Lounge. The restaurant showcases Northern Ireland’s culinary identity with locally sourced meats, dairy, baked goods and regional beers and spirits, and features a partnership...
Virgin Atlantic Appoints Anthony Uphill as Vice President Sales
Virgin Atlantic announced the appointment of Anthony Uphill as Vice President of Sales, effective May 5, 2026. Uphill will lead corporate and agency sales and coordinate with joint‑venture partners Delta, Air France and KLM, as well as broader SkyTeam alliances. He...
American Airlines Enhances Mobile App to Streamline Travel Experience
American Airlines rolled out a major redesign of its mobile app, turning the trip details page into a central hub for check‑in, boarding passes, and waitlist status. The update lets travelers manage seats, upgrades, baggage, itinerary changes and special service...
Air Canada Highlights Circular Uniform Program for Earth Day
Air Canada unveiled its circular uniform program on Earth Day, detailing four pathways—Rewear, Donate, Transform, and Repurpose—to extend garment life. The Rewear stream redistributes cleaned uniforms to staff at no charge, while surplus items are donated to Brands for Canada....
Japan Airlines Unveils Exclusive Kuju Single Malt for Inflight Sales
Japan Airlines is adding a limited‑edition Single Malt Kuju JAL EXCLUSIVE 2026 to its inflight retail menu, debuting on international flights from May 1. The whisky, produced by Oita‑based Kuju Distillery, blends three‑year bourbon‑barrel malt with new American oak, offering citrus notes...
Korean Air Relocates to Frankfurt Terminal 3, Opens New SkyTeam Lounge
Korean Air has moved its Frankfurt operations to the newly built Terminal 3, opening a 550 m² SkyTeam Lounge on April 24. The terminal, designed for up to 19 million passengers a year, offers upgraded infrastructure and an eight‑minute SkyLine train link to Terminal 1....
Blanke Textech Unveils Advanced Textile Laminated Cabin Panel at AIX 2026
Blanke textech GmbH, a Mattes & Ammann Group division, unveiled TE‑PAC—an advanced textile‑laminated cabin panel—at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. The panel bonds a high‑quality textile directly to a lightweight honeycomb composite, eliminating seams and folded edges. This design promises...
Air India Selects Hughes IFC for Airbus and Boeing Fleet
Air India Limited has signed an inflight connectivity (IFC) agreement with Hughes to equip its Airbus and Boeing wide‑body fleet with satellite‑based broadband. The partnership will deliver consistent, global Wi‑Fi coverage for passengers and crew, regardless of route. Hughes will...
Etihad Upgrades Mumbai and New Delhi Routes with A321LR Premium Experience
Etihad Airways is deploying Airbus A321LR aircraft on its Abu Dhabi‑Mumbai and Abu Dhabi‑New Delhi routes, operating twice daily on each leg. The narrow‑body jets feature private First Suites with lie‑flat beds, sliding doors and 4K screens, plus a Business...
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Southwest Partners with Siete Foods to Introduce Onboard Snack Option
Southwest Airlines is partnering with Texas‑based Siete Foods to add a healthier snack option for passengers in Extra Leg Room seats. The collaboration introduces Siete Mini Grain‑Free Mexican Wedding Cookies, which are gluten‑free, dairy‑free and made with almond flour, pecans,...
Jetstar Selects Viasat AMARA for 787 Fleet Connectivity Upgrade
Jetstar Airways has chosen Viasat’s next‑generation AMARA inflight connectivity to outfit 11 of its Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliners. The rollout, part of a broader cabin modernization effort, began this month and is slated for completion by mid‑2027. Powered by Viasat’s Ka‑band...
Air India Unveils First Retrofitted 787 with New Cabins and Livery
Air India unveiled its first retrofitted Boeing 787‑8, the inaugural aircraft in a $400 million program to refurbish 26 Dreamliners. The overhaul, completed at Boeing’s Victorville Modification Center, introduces a three‑class cabin with 20 private Business suites, 25 Premium Economy seats,...
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LATAM Unveils Premium Business Suite for A321XLR Fleet
LATAM Airlines Group will roll out a Premium Business Suite on its upcoming Airbus A321XLR, becoming the first South American carrier to feature full‑flat seats with individual doors on a single‑aisle aircraft. The cabin uses Thompson Aero Seating’s VantageSOLO 1‑1...
Omnevo Extends Partnership with Alpha Flight Services
Omnevo announced a multi‑year extension of its partnership with Alpha Flight Services UAE, continuing to supply its onboard retail point‑of‑sale application, digital pre‑order system, and crew‑meal platform for Air Arabia. The integrated solution links catering logistics, back‑office inventory, and in‑flight...
Emirates Expands Travel Rehearsal Program to Support Neurodiverse Passengers Worldwide
Emirates is extending its Travel Rehearsal program to more than 40 cities, offering simulated airport experiences for children and young adults with autism. Since its launch in April 2025, over 250 families across six continents have participated, and the airline...
Bucher Group Becomes Airbus SFE Galley and Stowage Supplier
Bucher Group has been chosen by Airbus to supply safety‑focused galley and stowage equipment for the A320 family. The Swiss firm will begin delivering its newly developed G1B galley platform later in 2026 after three years of engineering. The G1B...
RECARO and Air India Launch Economy and Premium Economy Retrofit Program on 787-8 Fleet
Air India and RECARO Aircraft Seating have begun a retrofit program for the carrier’s 26 Boeing 787‑8 jets, installing roughly 6,000 new seats. The upgrade introduces RECARO’s PL3530 model in Premium Economy and the CL3710 in Economy, both tailored to...
Japan Airlines Selects RECARO R2 Seats for 737 MAX-8 Fleet
Japan Airlines announced that its new 737 MAX‑8 fleet will be fitted with RECARO Aircraft Seating’s R2 economy class seats. The R2 model offers USB‑A and USB‑C power ports, a BYOD holder, ergonomic cushions, and custom‑styled dress covers that align with...
Gategroup Marks 95 Years with Integrated Onboard Hospitality Showcase at WTCE 2026
gategroup marked its 95th anniversary at the 2026 WTCE expo in Hamburg with a comprehensive showcase that bundles culinary innovation, AI‑powered menu development, and automated production. The exhibit highlighted its Menu Development Platform built with Black Swan Data, a Smart...
Léa Bodossian Appointed Managing Director of ACA
Léa Bodossian has been appointed Managing Director of the Airline Caterers Association (ACA), taking the helm immediately. She brings more than two decades of experience in European aviation policy, regulatory affairs, and pan‑European organization leadership. Bodossian will guide ACA’s next growth...
DeSter Highlights “Care Fueled Journeys” Concept at WTCE
deSter presented its “Care Fueled Journeys” concept at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in Hamburg, positioning thoughtful design and passenger wellbeing as a strategic differentiator in the inflight experience. The showcase highlighted three design lenses—Abundance, Ease...
Jiatai Enters Middle East Market Through Flyadeal A330 Seat Deal
Jiatai, a Chinese aircraft‑seating manufacturer, has signed a landmark agreement with Saudi low‑cost carrier flyadeal to provide Economy Class seats for ten new Airbus A330 wide‑body aircraft. The deal marks Jiatai's first entry into the Middle East market and flyadeal's...
SEKISUI KYDEX Showcases Next-Generation Sustainable Material at AIX 2026
SEKISUI KYDEX unveiled KYDEX ECO 6565HI at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026, a next‑generation thermoplastic aimed at greener aviation cabins. The material delivers an eight‑percent reduction in global warming potential and a 195‑percent lower acidification potential versus its predecessor, while meeting FAR 25.853 heat‑release and...
TCI Aircraft Interiors, Türksat and Neo Space Group Establish Multi-Orbit IFC Partnership
TCI Aircraft Interiors, Turkey’s satellite operator Türksat, and Neo Space Group have signed a three‑party agreement to deliver next‑generation inflight connectivity (IFC) using a multi‑orbit architecture. The partnership combines GEO, MEO and future LEO satellite capacity with TCI’s cabin‑system integration...
Jiatai Showcases Comfort Experience at AIX 2026
Jiatai showcased its latest aircraft‑seat portfolio at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, centering on a "Comfort" theme. The lineup featured upgraded JT220B/E series seats, a premium business‑class model, and a concept seat with electric and mechanical adjustments. The company...
Thai Airways Introduces Disney Themed Activity Kits for Young Travelers
Thai Airways has partnered with Disney to launch its first Disney‑themed activity kits for young travelers, featuring Moana and Mickey Mouse designs. Each kit includes a reusable bag, a pop‑up board game or activity cards, puzzles, stickers and coloring tools,...
Hainan Airlines to Launch 4K RAVE Ultra IFE on A321neo Fleet
Hainan Airlines announced that its A321neo fleet will be fitted with RAVE Aerospace’s 4K RAVE Ultra inflight entertainment system, extending the technology first deployed on its A330neo in late 2025. The rollout makes Hainan the first launch customer for the...
C8Rtech Launches as Standalone Airline-Catering Technology Company
C8Rtech has launched as an independent airline‑catering technology firm after spinning out of LSG Group in Frankfurt. The company brings 25 years of industry expertise and two integrated platforms—Catering Suite and Inflight Suite—to digitize shop‑floor operations and airline‑caterer collaboration. Its mobile‑first,...
Viasat, Vueling Mark Milestone with One Million Free Inflight Wi-Fi Sessions Across A320 Fleet
Viasat Inc. announced that its partnership with Spanish low‑cost carrier Vueling has generated more than one million free inflight Wi‑Fi sessions across the airline’s A320 fleet. The service, launched in October 2025, is now available on over 80 aircraft and...
Tangerine and Buzz Collaborate to Rethink Premium Economy Comfort
Tangerine and Buzz have launched a cross‑disciplinary partnership to redesign Premium Economy comfort, unveiling four prototype accessories aimed at improving rest without lie‑flat seats. The collaboration blends Tangerine’s cabin‑experience design expertise with Buzz’s product‑innovation capabilities, marking the first such joint...
Burrana Positions RISE Power as Core Cabin Infrastructure at AIX 2026
Burrana unveiled its RISE Power platform at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026, branding in‑seat power as a core cabin infrastructure rather than a peripheral amenity. The clean‑sheet system uses dynamic, cabin‑wide power management to replace the traditional first‑come, first‑served model, delivering...
Flyadeal Selects Geven and Jiatai Seats for New A330 Widebody Fleet
Flyadeal has chosen Geven Premium Economy seats and Jiatai Economy seats for its upcoming Airbus A330‑900neo fleet, marking the carrier’s entry into long‑haul, two‑class service. The aircraft will carry 14 Premium Economy seats in a 2‑3‑2 layout with a 38‑inch...
Wizz Air Selects Geven’s Eva Seats for A321neo Fleet Upgrade
Wizz Air has signed a deal with German seat maker Geven to outfit its A321neo fleet with the lightweight Eva seat. The agreement covers roughly 200 shipsets, or about 45,000 seats, and aims to standardize cabin layout across the carrier’s high‑density...
TravelPlus Celebrates 20 Years of Airline Amenity Awards
TravelPlus celebrated the 20th edition of its Airline Amenity Awards in Hamburg, honoring airlines and suppliers for excellence in cabin comfort and design. The ceremony highlighted winners across economy to first class, with Saudia, FORMIA and several Asian carriers taking...
Insperial Introduces CMF Solutions at AIX 2026
Insperial announced a dedicated Colour, Material and Finish (CMF) service for aviation interiors, debuting at AIX 2026. The offering consolidates the company's laminate, leather, textile and livery expertise into a single design platform that aligns surfaces from seats to panels....
Air Canada and Collins Unveil Aurora Suites for A321XLR Fleet
Air Canada announced the Aurora "Glowing Hearted" premium suites for its upcoming Airbus A321XLR fleet, debuting at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Each of the 30 new jets will feature fourteen Aurora business‑class suites and 168 Meridian+ economy seats, all co‑designed...
SEKISUI KYDEX, EnCore Unveil ‘Parlor’ Social Galley Concept at AIX 2026
At AIX 2026, SEKISUI KYDEX and Boeing’s EnCore unveiled the full‑scale “Parlor,” a wide‑body social galley that lets passengers serve themselves drinks and snacks in a lounge‑like setting. The concept repurposes the traditional galley into a passenger‑facing destination, blending hospitality aesthetics...
Air India Selects Panasonic Avionics as IFE MRO Provider
Air India has chosen Panasonic Avionics' Total Care Package to service the in‑flight entertainment (IFE) systems on 74 aircraft, including its 787‑9, A350‑1000, A350‑900 and A321neo fleet. Panasonic Technical Services will provide end‑to‑end maintenance, proactive monitoring and 24/7 technical assistance....
En Route Unveils Regional Product Ranges, Insight Report at WTCE
En Route International showcased new regionally adaptable product ranges and a proprietary passenger‑preference report at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo. The launch features globally inspired breads, a premium sandwich called “The Club,” and an ice‑cream sundae concept...
Saudia and Neo Space Group Launch Advanced IFC
Saudia has partnered with Neo Space Group to roll out an advanced inflight connectivity (IFC) service that will provide complimentary high‑speed internet across its global network. The system is powered by NSG’s Skywaves platform and SES’s Open Orbits multi‑orbit satellite...
Panasonic Avionics Launches eXNeo to Upgrade X Series IFE Systems
Panasonic Avionics unveiled eXNeo, a next‑generation seat‑back monitor slated for release in 2027. The retrofit solution replaces legacy X Series displays without requiring new seats, leveraging existing harnesses to streamline certification and minimize aircraft downtime. eXNeo boosts processing power, storage...
RAVE Aerospace, Safran Seats Unveil ‘Origin’ Concept for Next-Gen Premium Cabins
RAVE Aerospace and Safran Seats unveiled the "Origin" premium‑cabin concept at the Aircraft Interiors Expo on April 14, 2026. The suite pairs a U‑shaped micro‑LED Immersive Display with adaptive comfort systems that regulate cushion pressure and micro‑climate. Integrated lighting, smart storage...
RAVE Aerospace and Reaktor Showcase Next Generation GUI Concept at AIX
RAVE Aerospace and Finnish digital studio Reaktor have co‑created Harmony, a next‑generation inflight graphical user interface built on RAVE's open platform architecture. The demo will be displayed at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg from April 14‑16, showcasing how...
ThinKom Unveils Space-Optimized ThinAir Nexus Aircraft Antenna
ThinKom introduced the ThinAir Nexus, a space‑optimized aircraft antenna that delivers multi‑orbit, multi‑constellation inflight connectivity in a footprint comparable to single‑orbit electronically steered antennas. The Nexus supports gigabit‑class throughput for GEO, MEO and LEO satellites and can be upgraded via a...
ACS UK Showcases Customized Premium Cabin Interiors with OMNIA at AIX 2026
ACS UK returned to Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026 to unveil OMNIA, a unified showcase of customized premium cabin interiors. The display highlights an adaptive galley worktop that doubles usable crew surface, an autonomous lighting dimmer for independent lighting control, and...
WTCE Reveals Steps to Sustainability Lineup
World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) has unveiled the exhibitor lineup for its "Steps to Sustainability" feature, spotlighting more than 20 suppliers delivering circular‑material products, waste‑reduction technologies, and lightweight inflight equipment. The curated trail, developed with sustainability ambassador...
Devion to Showcase Innovation at WTCE
Devion, a specialist in intelligent automation for airline catering, will debut its new Rivo platform at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). The showcase highlights RivoLoad, a modular trolley‑loading system derived from a decade‑long partnership with KLM...