Passenger Experience News

Wall Street Journal • Owen Tucker-Smith

American Airlines to Launch Free Inflight Wi-Fi in 2026 for AAdvantage Members

Starting January 2026, American Airlines will offer complimentary inflight Wi-Fi, sponsored by AT&T, to AAdvantage loyalty program members. This move comes as a response to industry competition with airlines like United rolling out SpaceX's Starlink across their fleets, emphasizing connectivity advancements.

2025-04-15T03:32:12.989596-07:00

Airways Magazine

ICAO Proposes World’s First Universal Biometric ID for Seamless Air Travel

2025-04-16T06:44:45.180228-07:00

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

SAS to Reintroduce European Business Class from October 2025

2025-04-15T04:55:13.800923-07:00

AeroTime

SAS Reintroduces Short-Haul Business Class in Response to Rising Premium Demand

2025-04-15T06:17:32.423635-07:00

Passenger Experience News Timeline

PaxEx.Aero

Airbus Drops Viasat's GX Aviation from HBCplus Program Amid Connectivity Shifts In a surprising move at AIX 2025, Airbus decided to remove Viasat's GX Aviation network from its HBCplus inflight connectivity offering. This change impacts more than 100 aircraft previously equipped with Viasat, signaling a shift in Airbus’s inflight connectivity strategy.

2025-04-17T12:00:32.809249-07:00

Airbus Drops Viasat's GX Aviation from HBCplus Program Amid Connectivity Shifts

FlightGlobal

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Air New Zealand Receives First Retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Air New Zealand's first retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has returned to Auckland after a 184-day upgrade in Singapore, enhancing passenger experience with improved cabin features. This marks a significant step in the airline's fleet modernization efforts and customer service enhancement strategy.

2025-04-16T21:04:08.951559-07:00

Air New Zealand Receives First Retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Flying Magazine

Foldable E-Bikes Revolutionize Ground Transport for Pilots Foldable electric bikes are emerging as a convenient solution for pilots seeking efficient ground transportation options. These innovative e-bikes offer flexibility, enabling aviation professionals to navigate large airports or travel between urban locations with ease, bridging the gap between air travel and ground mobility.

2025-04-16T12:53:09.460279-07:00

Foldable E-Bikes Revolutionize Ground Transport for Pilots

Runway Girl

Thales Introduces 360Stream: A New Era in Inflight Entertainment At the Aircraft Interiors Expo, Thales unveiled its 360Stream inflight entertainment suite, offering live event-based programming and near-live service updates on major sports and news within an hour. This innovation aims to enhance passenger engagement and redefine onboard content delivery.

2025-04-16T07:20:40.385168-07:00

Thales Introduces 360Stream: A New Era in Inflight Entertainment

Airways Magazine

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ICAO Proposes World’s First Universal Biometric ID for Seamless Air Travel ICAO introduces 'Journey Pass,' a universal biometric ID set to revolutionize air travel by streamlining passenger boarding. With parallels to the transformative switch to e-ticketing, the 'Journey Pass' aims to enhance security and facilitate smoother airport experiences globally.

2025-04-16T06:44:45.180228-07:00

ICAO Proposes World’s First Universal Biometric ID for Seamless Air Travel

stuckattheairport.com

Portland International Airport Expansion Features Speakeasy as Local Highlight The recently unveiled expansion at Portland International Airport, designed by ZGF, includes a speakeasy as part of its offerings, alongside a mass timber roof and greenery. The expansion is celebrated for its inclusion of local shops and restaurants, enhancing the traveler experience.

2025-04-15T22:55:24.141592-07:00

Portland International Airport Expansion Features Speakeasy as Local Highlight

The Independent

Southwest Airlines Overhauls Policies, Facing Customer Backlash Southwest Airlines has announced significant policy changes, including the removal of free checked bags, the introduction of assigned seating, and expiration on flight credits. These adjustments, effective May 28, have sparked backlash as the airline attempts to align with industry competition and boost profitability.

2025-04-15T11:24:02.845391-07:00

Southwest Airlines Overhauls Policies, Facing Customer Backlash

thriftytraveler.com

Google Flights Tests New Filter to Exclude Basic Economy In a move that could significantly enhance user experience, Google Flights is testing a new filter for basic economy fares. This tool responds to frequent traveler demands to streamline the search for more comprehensive flight options, avoiding the restrictions of basic economy tickets.

2025-04-15T09:32:41.773294-07:00

Google Flights Tests New Filter to Exclude Basic Economy

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