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Air Data News

American Airlines to nearly triple premium Boeing 787-9 fleet

American Airlines plans to add 19 Boeing 787-9s with its new premium-focused cabin, nearly tripling the number of aircraft so equipped. The variant earned the airline’s highest passenger-satisfaction score, making the cabin a notable element of its widebody fleet expansion.

APEX

High activity

United opens Houston’s 765,000-square-foot Terminal B North Concourse, adding 22 gates and a 54,000-square-foot club

United’s new three-level concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport includes 22 mainline gates and opens to passengers after a preview. Its 54,000-square-foot club seats 800 and features an outdoor terrace; the project also brings local restaurants to Terminal B. The cluster’s Dallas-Fort Worth item concerns a separate American Airlines terminal expansion.

FlightGlobal

High activity

Trump asks Musk to lift Starlink restrictions in Ukraine as officials spotlight SpaceX’s control over wartime service

President Donald Trump called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and asked him to remove restrictions on Starlink services in Ukraine, including limits on the military-grade Starshield system, according to reports citing U.S. officials. Administration officials have pointed to Musk for slowing service, raising questions about private control of critical wartime communications.

AeroTime

High activity

Delta completes global free Wi-Fi rollout as Singapore Airlines and British Airways expand Starlink and onboard entertainment

Delta is extending free Delta Sync Wi-Fi to trans-Pacific routes, completing its global network rollout. British Airways has finished installing Starlink on all 18 of its A350s, while Singapore Airlines is refreshing KrisWorld with 4K screens, Bluetooth audio and Starlink connectivity on retrofitted A350s and the 777-9.

AINonline

Boeing Business Jet first to get Airmont live TV without a separate gateway box

A Boeing Business Jet will be the first aircraft to receive Airmont live TV through DPI Labs’ cabin server. The system runs as software on the existing server, eliminating the need for a dedicated gateway box and changing the hardware footprint required to provide live television in the cabin.

Airport World

United previews Houston IAH’s 765,000-square-foot Terminal B North Concourse, with 22 mainline gates

United’s new three-level concourse at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is set to open to the public tomorrow. The 765,000-square-foot facility includes 22 mainline gates and a large United Club, adding a major new passenger and gate facility at the airline’s Houston hub.

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

British Airways completes free Starlink Wi-Fi rollout across all 18 Airbus A350s

British Airways has finished installing Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi across its fleet of 18 Airbus A350s. The airline says the service is free and ultra-fast, making connectivity available to passengers on every A350 flight.

CNBC

High activity

United opens Houston’s 765,000-square-foot Terminal B North concourse as part of $2.6 billion hub overhaul

United’s new three-level Terminal B North at George Bush Intercontinental Airport adds 22 mainline gates and a 54,000-square-foot lounge, described as the largest airline lounge in the Americas. The facility is part of a $2.6 billion Terminal B investment intended to transform the airline’s Houston hub.