Runway Girl

Runway Girl A collective of aviation journalists from around the world delivering intelligence about the diverse airline passenger experience.

A collective of aviation journalists from around the world delivering intelligence about the diverse airline passenger experience.

Airbus has decided to formally develop its ultra-luxe First Class Experience for the A350-1000 widebody, revealing that ...
05/28/2026

Airbus has decided to formally develop its ultra-luxe First Class Experience for the A350-1000 widebody, revealing that certain elements of the design are already being mulled by airlines.

One year after unveiling the concept, which rearranges the entire front of the A350-1000 to enable a 1-1-1 configuration including a center-section Master Suite that can accommodate two passengers and provide access to a dedicated lavatory, Airbus has “stopped the studies” and is now “in the development phase” to deliver the First Class Experience, Airbus vice president of cabin marketing Ingo Wuggetzer said during this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

Driving Airbus’ decision is, broadly, the clear momentum behind first class and, specifically, the fact that its A350-1000 is serving as a flagship aircraft for airlines or is increasingly positioned to do so as the venerable Airbus A380 double-decker’s footprint diminishes in the world fleet.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/airbus-enters-development-phase-for-ultra-luxe-first-class-experience/

American Airlines plans to fit SpaceX’s Starlink Ku-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-powered IFC to more than 500 Ai...
05/26/2026

American Airlines plans to fit SpaceX’s Starlink Ku-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-powered IFC to more than 500 Airbus narrowbodies.

“New A321XLR and A321neo deliveries” have been earmarked for Starlink, as part of American’s wider modernization of its Airbus narrowbody fleet, the airline says.

Financial terms have not been disclosed. And it is not immediately clear which variant of American’s Airbus A320 family twinjets will be fitted first. Installs will start in the first quarter of 2027.

American is the fourth US major to adopt Starlink, following full-fleet customers United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and partial-fleet customer Southwest Airlines. In contrast, JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines have selected Amazon’s forthcoming Ka-band LEO satellite-supported IFC solution, Amazon Leo, for a portion of their respective fleets.

A oneworld alliance member, American began a phased rollout of free inflight Wi-Fi early this year. It says Starlink “will enable seamless streaming, browsing and real-time communication capabilities” across its domestic and short-haul international routes.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/american-pivots-to-starlink-for-500-plus-airbus-narrowbodies/

Airbus is open to discussing with airlines a future where the European airframer acts as the orchestrator for ferrying d...
05/21/2026

Airbus is open to discussing with airlines a future where the European airframer acts as the orchestrator for ferrying data over multiple inflight connectivity pipes on Airbus aircraft — or partnering with a trusted company with those proficiencies — should aviation follow the cruise industry and adopt a ‘least cost routing’ approach, Airbus revealed to RGN at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

On the heels of announcing a new linefit, supplier-furnished HBCplus modular architecture, which will accommodate two electronically steerable antennas in the Ku- and/or Ka-band from 2028 — and in what felt like a stunning admission — Airbus VP, head of connected aircraft program Tim Sommer confirmed that Airbus “definitely sees an interest in doing” multi-vendor, akin to maritime, and that:

"Technically, our architecture enables that very clearly with what we have. So yes, we need to see what the best business arrangement is in there.

"We’d probably be looking for partners, and you mentioned names on the market who are able actually to manage that [we mentioned edge-to-cloud network platform and Crystal Cabin Award winner Quvia, specifically]. That’s not necessarily what we see as our core business to do that.

"Let’s see if we see a strong demand from the market to have Airbus in that position. I mean, we’re open to discuss that as well, but the important thing is, you have a system which allows you to do that, which has the technical capability to do it.

"And then, as the market is evolving quickly now, we will see what, in the end, plays out [and] who is going to take that role."

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/airbus-open-to-ifc-orchestration-should-multi-vendor-take-off/

As non-geostationary satellite services disrupt the inflight connectivity sector, Boeing is providing the necessary spec...
05/19/2026

As non-geostationary satellite services disrupt the inflight connectivity sector, Boeing is providing the necessary specs to enable airlines to retrofit their Boeing twinjets with next-gen IFC. The US airframer also confirms to Runway Girl Network that it’s in talks to expand its linefit buyer furnished equipment (BFE) catalog to meet the evolving IFC needs of its airline customers.

“We’re currently supporting the Starlink antenna and the Stellar Blu antenna” with the Boeing Aerodynamic Shroud — the new fairing that’s designed to accommodate the next generation of electronically steered phased array antennas, Boeing marketing director Steve Jaffe told RGN whilst standing beside a 50% scale model of the Shroud at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg.

The Shroud enables up to two electronically steerable antennas (ESAs) to be efficiently integrated with Boeing commercial aircraft, firstly via aircraft retrofits but in time via linefit.

Whereas Starlink is LEO-based and features two ESAs on Boeing aircraft, the multi-orbit Stellar Blu ‘Sidewinder’ ESA from Gilat Satellite Networks supports SES or Panasonic Avionics’ respective LEO/GEO IFC offerings, with the LEO portion powered by Eutelsat OneWeb in both instances.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/boeing-stays-flexible-to-support-esa-installs-for-next-gen-ifc/

This year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg was awe-inspiring, with a raft of exhibitors proudly displaying acc...
05/11/2026

This year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg was awe-inspiring, with a raft of exhibitors proudly displaying accessible air travel solutions that consider Disabled passengers’ lived experiences.

Whereas accessible solutions went mainstream at last year’s show, AIX 2026 was a true tipping point. After honing their designs based on robust feedback, exhibitors this year positioned accessible innovations front and center on their stands.

Your author, a wheelchair user, can’t shout about it enough. Let’s take a look. Full story by Rocket Girl Coaching - Mary Doyle: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/aix-2026-shows-accessible-air-travel-has-reached-tipping-point/

Velis Electro is the world’s first type-certified electric-powered aircraft. Operated by UK-based Saxon Air, the Velis E...
05/06/2026

Velis Electro is the world’s first type-certified electric-powered aircraft.

Operated by UK-based Saxon Air, the Velis Electro charges up in what is essentially a car port with a photovoltaic array for a roof.

That means that on this bright spring day we’re literally flying on the power of sunshine.

Flight instructor Miles Riches, also Saxon Air’s head of rotary sales, briefs me on the aircraft, explaining how to get into the small cockpit and close the door.

Like a sports car stripped for outright performance, everything in the aircraft is lightweight, helping to maximize endurance from its batteries. Each door hinges up to a latch under the wing. A sharp tug frees it, and a handle moves three rods to lock it closed.

The rods nestle behind shallow cut-outs in the door frame. I expected draughts and rattles in flight, but the mechanism, like the rest of the airframe, is minimalistic but finely engineered, and there were none.

The thinly-cushioned seats are deceptively comfortable. Batteries occupy the erstwhile baggage space of the piston-powered Velis models, leaving the electric-powered Velis Electro with no space for my laptop bag.

Miles opens the throttle and the propeller turns. He closes it, and the ‘prop’ stops. Since there is no piston engine ticking over or turbine whining at idle, the Velis Electro is silent.

Full report: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/saxon-air-pipistrel-velis-electro/

Finnair’s Airbus A330 fleet doesn't offer the most premium of premium products, but it only recently introduced Premium ...
05/04/2026

Finnair’s Airbus A330 fleet doesn't offer the most premium of premium products, but it only recently introduced Premium Economy so I was excited to try PE on my flight from Helsinki to New York, after attending the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

I picked (and paid extra for) a bulkhead seat after visually confirming using Finnair’s excellent aircraft virtual tour that the extra legroom provided meant that even in a window seat I would be able to access the aisle without forcing my seatmate to get up.

I was seriously interested in upgrading to Finnair’s unique AirLounge business class product, but the combination of booking through a third party and as a British Airways codeshare meant I couldn’t even inquire about it until I arrived in Helsinki.

On a whim, I stopped by the transfer desk after clearing the EU exit process to ask about upgrade pricing. To my surprise and delight, the upgrade from Premium Economy to Business Class was a very reasonable 420 EUR, or just under $500.

This was a no brainer for me. Unfortunately, this meant that the $82 seat selection fee for my Premium Economy seat was a throwaway but it was still a good deal.

I knew what to expect out of the AirLounge seat aboard the A330 after having briefly sat in it at Collins Aerospace's booth at AIX in 2022, but this nearly nine-hour flight to JFK would be a real test.

Full Trip Report: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/finnair-a330-fixed-recline-business-seat-not-for-everyone/

Report + Images by Jason Rabinowitz

With extensive experience in the aviation, science and technology sectors, Rachel Gardner-Poole OBE is seeking to transf...
05/04/2026

With extensive experience in the aviation, science and technology sectors, Rachel Gardner-Poole OBE is seeking to transform humanitarian air services with a new non-profit called Aviation for Good.

“There is very little awareness, even within aviation, of the impact of humanitarian flying,” says Gardner-Poole, who serves as a board member on several prestigious aviation firms.

Yet, as the moniker for Aviation for Good suggests, humanitarian flights ‘bridge the gap between isolation and opportunity.’

The organization is in the process of forging key aviation partnerships with the aim of supporting campaigns that will send healthcare teams, medicines and other life-saving supplies to South Sudan and Papua New Guinea.

Full story: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/05/rachel-gardner-poole-obe-aviation-for-good/

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