Not necessarily IFE news, but we can't pass up any opportunity to report on Google's awesome 767 retrofit project. This article drops a hint about work that American Airlines base in Kansas City did for Google founder's shell company, Blue City Holdings:

American Airlines says its Kansas City, Mo., aircraft overhaul base met its "Breakthrough Goal" of $150 million in value creation through productivity improvements, cost reductions and new revenue... It installed winglets on American's fleet of 757s and on aircraft for Blue City Holdings.

pre-winglet photo of N2767

¶ 12:40 PM 10 comments

These photos of Emirates ICE cabin entertainment system were taken in Q3 2006. We believe they are still accurate.

To submit new photos, email me and write Emirates IFE photos for Nick in the subject line.

¶ 10:05 PM 2 comments

If AirCell has its way, 2009 could be the big year of widespread in-flight internet adoption. Rivals Learn From Boeing's 'Connexion' by ANICK JESDANUN on Dec 23, 2007 covers the basics:

JetBlue's LiveTV subsidiary paid the Federal Communications Commission $7 million for wireless spectrum that one test JetBlue aircraft has been using since Dec. 11 to communicate with about 100 cell towers spread across the continental United States.

The 1-megahertz frequency band allows that aircraft to offer free e-mail and instant-messaging services on laptops and handheld devices through Yahoo Inc. and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd.

Aircell licensed a band three times the size of LiveTV's for $31 million and plans to offer broader Internet services, including Web surfing, for about $10 a flight — what Boeing had charged for the first hour. Pending regulatory approval, Aircell's first Internet-capable flight is expected on American in 2008, using 92 cell towers on the ground.

¶ 1:59 PM 0 comments

Light on details, but heavy on industry wrap-up - this piece by Dawn Gilbertson in The Arizona Republic from December 23rd, 2007.

• US Airways hopes to broaden the movie menu in the not-too-distant future with a new fiber optic in-flight entertainment system in development with an undisclosed manufacturer. It plans to test the touch screen seat-back system on one plane as early as late spring.
• Delta Air Lines offers a new seat-back system on its transcontinental flights, including Phoenix to New York, that includes movies on demand, live television and HBO programming. It has aggressive plans to expand it to other routes.
• Virgin America, a San Francisco startup, offers a seat-back system called Red that includes more than 25 pay-per-view movies and satellite television. The airline calls it the most advanced entertainment system in the sky. New releases are $8.

¶ 1:51 PM 0 comments