PaxEx.Aero
• Seth Miller
Panasonic Avionics says more than 500,000 Astrova inflight entertainment screens are now under contract, prompting a major production ramp at its expanded Osaka manufacturing facility. The planned increase signals rising demand for the system and puts manufacturing capacity in focus as the supplier scales output.
PaxEx
Latest source-backed stories
Qatar Airways is seriously considering introducing a premium-economy cabin, CEO Hamad Ali Al-Khater told Executive Traveller, but the airline has made no final decision. The possibility marks a shift from former chief executive Akbar Al Baker’s position that the carrier’s economy class already offered a comparable experience.
High activity
Panasonic Avionics says more than 500,000 Astrova inflight entertainment screens are now under contract, prompting a major production ramp at its expanded Osaka manufacturing facility. The planned increase signals rising demand for the system and puts manufacturing capacity in focus as the supplier scales output.
Emirates plans to operate the Airbus A350 on all four daily flights between Dubai and Vietnam’s two largest cities by Dec. 1. The expansion brings the carrier’s Premium Economy cabin to Hanoi, marking the aircraft’s debut on that route.
Emirates is presenting new accessibility concepts spanning the airport, lounge and aircraft cabin, while expanding existing support at Dubai International Airport. The initiative puts passenger accessibility across multiple stages of travel in focus, though the available report does not specify the concepts or the scope of the expanded support.
Thales says its cloud-native FlytEDGE platform is preparing to enter service with Qatar Airways and Delta Air Lines. The announcement, made at APEX FTE EXPO 2026, marks the platform’s transition toward airline operations as Thales continues to develop its inflight experience offering.
High activity
Air France plans up to 725 daily flights to nearly 170 destinations in 78 countries this winter, increasing capacity across the Americas, Asia and Iberia and extending La Première to more U.S. routes. Aeroméxico is restoring service to Saltillo after eight years and plans Guadalajara–Paris flights in 2027.
At APEX FTE EXPO 2026, PXCom plans to present a turnkey inflight connectivity offering alongside onboard AI capabilities and its SkyVerse digital platform. The announcement combines connectivity and digital services in a single showcase, but the available information does not detail product specifications, customers or deployment plans.
A surge in fuel prices is squeezing airline margins and driving fare increases that are deterring cost-conscious economy passengers. The industry response is a sharper focus on the wealthiest travelers, with premium offerings—from caviar and champagne to Porsche transfers—underscoring a widening divide in the passenger experience.
Create a free account to see more recent PaxEx stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
