PaxEx News

Wall Street Journal

As in-flight internet improves, video calls are bringing work meetings and personal conversations into the cabin

Faster onboard connectivity is changing how passengers use flight time, with more travelers taking work meetings and chatting with family from the cabin. The shift is creating a new source of friction for passengers as private conversations become audible to those seated nearby.

Bloomberg

Musk targets Delta as U.S. airlines move to Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi

Delta is a holdout as U.S. airlines race to deploy Starlink for in-flight Wi-Fi, putting the carrier at the center of a contest over satellite connectivity. The cluster points to a widening shift in airline connectivity choices, though the available reporting provides no details on Delta’s plans.

AeroTime

JAL reopens renovated Haneda domestic lounges with more capacity and faster security

Japan Airlines will reopen its First Class Lounge and Sakura Lounge in Terminal 1’s North Wing on Oct. 8, with increased seating, work and children’s areas, and showers bookable by phone. A revamped dedicated security checkpoint will let passengers keep laptops packed, while the Diamond Premier Lounge takes the JAL First Class Lounge name.

Airline Economics

High activity

Airlines broaden loyalty and travel offerings as Air India–Singapore Airlines expand to 126 weekly flights

Delta and Hyatt are launching a long-term partnership centered on loyalty-program benefits, while British Airways is introducing new cabins across its retrofitted A380s. Separately, Air India and Singapore Airlines will expand India–Singapore connectivity, booking options and frequent-flyer benefits from October 2026, with 126 weekly flights.

Via Satellite

Airlines weigh LEO, GEO and multi-orbit options as free in-flight connectivity gains ground

As airlines embrace free in-flight connectivity, Starlink has made significant inroads over the past two to three years. Four airlines compare offerings spanning low-Earth-orbit, geostationary and multi-orbit systems, reflecting a market at an inflection point.

APEX

High activity

American to build 40,000-square-foot Admirals Club at Charlotte, its largest airport lounge

American Airlines plans to build its largest Admirals Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with construction expected to begin this year and the 40,000-square-foot lounge targeted to open in 2028. The atrium-style facility will exceed the size of the carrier’s planned Dallas-Fort Worth club, expanding premium amenities at its second-largest hub.

FlightGlobal

High activity

British Airways to remove 52 seats in major A380 cabin overhaul, expanding premium economy and business class

British Airways is redesigning its Airbus A380 cabins, removing 52 seats to add premium-economy capacity and create what it says will be the world’s largest business-class deck. The investment reflects the airline’s effort to prioritize higher-yield passengers at slot-constrained Heathrow, even as A380 production has ended and new widebodies face delays.

PaxEx.Aero

Alaska Airlines’ Aurora 737 MAX 10 Will Use a Rare Split-Cabin IFE Layout

Alaska Airlines plans to limit seatback in-flight entertainment screens to selected seats in the premium Aurora configuration of its 737 MAX 10. The unusual choice reflects a differentiated approach to cabin design and passenger experience, with the airline offering specific reasons for departing from the industry norm.