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Runway Girl
@runwaygirl.com
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A collective of aviation journalists from around the world delivering intelligence about the diverse airline passenger experience.
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Runway Girl @runwaygirl.com · 1d
Following significant backlash from passengers, WestJet has reversed a decision to densify standard economy class on the Boeing 737 MAX 8s that it inherited from Swoop, Sunwing and Lynx Air.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/west... #PaxEx
WestJet takes U-turn on densified economy aboard 737 MAX 8s - Runway Girl
WestJet has scrapped a decision to densify standard economy class on the Boeing 737 MAX 8s twinjets that it inherited from Swoop, Sunwing and Lynx Air.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
runwaygirl.com
Following significant backlash from passengers, WestJet has reversed a decision to densify standard economy class on the Boeing 737 MAX 8s that it inherited from Swoop, Sunwing and Lynx Air.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/west... #PaxEx
WestJet takes U-turn on densified economy aboard 737 MAX 8s - Runway Girl
WestJet has scrapped a decision to densify standard economy class on the Boeing 737 MAX 8s twinjets that it inherited from Swoop, Sunwing and Lynx Air.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:44 PM
runwaygirl.com
A Canadian start-up backed by Boeing and Pratt & Whitney Canada aims to “change the face of aviation” with a hybrid-electric regional aircraft that promises to reduce emissions, slash MX costs & improve #PaxEx. EVIO's CEO details the plan. runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/evio... #greenwing #avgeek
EVIO details plan to disrupt regional market with hybrid-electric aircraft - Runway Girl
EVIO, a start-up backed by Boeing and Pratt & Whitney Canada, aims to “change the face of aviation” with a hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:56 PM
runwaygirl.com
Joining JSX this week in Santa Monica to celebrate the US public charter carrier’s first 30-seat ATR 42-600, ATR doubled down on its message that the U.S. market holds “strong potential” for turboprops as the retirement of 50-seat RJs creates a connectivity gap. #greenwing #avgeek #paxex
ATR sees strong U.S. market potential as JSX showcases ATR 42-600 - Runway Girl
Joining JSX this week to celebrate its first 30-seat ATR 42-600, ATR doubled down on its message that the U.S. market holds “strong potential” for the turboprop.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:13 PM
runwaygirl.com
Is it risky for airlines to commit their entire fleets to Starlink? What happens when it’s time to renegotiate short subscription-based service agreements? Won’t SpaceX be in the driver’s seat?

SES makes the case for why "there’s absolutely risk." runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/ses-... #PaxEx
SES flags risk when airlines 'hand over keys' to Starlink - Runway Girl
SES reckons it's risky for carriers to commit their entire fleets to Starlink as they lose leverage when it's time to renegotiate pricing.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Runway Girl
airlineflyer.net
Delta finally placed an order for the 787, specifically the 787-10 powered by GEnx engines. It’ll take 30 with options for 30 more.

This completes the timeline in which Northwest originally ordered 787s in 2006, but Delta deferred those deliveries for years until finally canceling a decade later.
January 13, 2026 at 1:33 PM
runwaygirl.com
In a surprise announcement, Lufthansa Group has selected Starlink for its entire fleet, and will offer the service free of charge to all status customers and Travel ID users. The news is a blow to multiple parties including European Aviation Network.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/luft... #PaxEx
Lufthansa Group hands massive fleet-wide IFC contract to Starlink - Runway Girl
In a surprise announcement, Lufthansa Group has selected Starlink inflight connectivity for its entire fleet.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:16 PM
runwaygirl.com
Even as supply chain constraints continued to smart across aerospace, Airbus delivered 793 aircraft to 91 customers in 2025, representing a 4% increase year-over-year.

Of note, it registered 1,000 orders, reaching an Airbus record backlog of 8,754.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/airb... #avgeek
Airbus delivers 793 aircraft in 2025, reaches record order backlog - Runway Girl
Even as supply chain bottlenecks continue to smart, Airbus in 2025 delivered 793 aircraft to 91 customers, and registered 1,000 orders.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Runway Girl
airlineflyer.net
Come for the business class review, stay for the Yamanote train model cameos throughout the photos.
runwaygirl.com Runway Girl @runwaygirl.com · 10d
Service oddities mar otherwise solid American Airlines JFK-HND flight

A #nosetotail trip report by @airlineflyer.net aboard the carrier's regular 787-9 with doorless mini-suites

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/serv...

#aviation #paxex #avgeek
IFE screen and IFE remote are in view as the author sits in the business class mini-suite aboard AA's 787-9 Overhead view of a business class window seat on the AA 787-9 A delectable looking bento box is displayed on the tray table Snacks are offered atop a monument in business class
January 9, 2026 at 6:57 PM
runwaygirl.com
IndiGo has welcomed India’s first A321XLR to its fleet, and plans to press it into service on Jan 23 from Mumbai to Athens.

The first of 40 A321XLRs destined for IndiGo, the dual-class jet (VT-NLA) is fitted with Recaro R5 recliners and R2 slimlines.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/indi... #PaxEx
IndiGoStretch cabin featuring 2-2 configured Recaro R5 recliners with winged privacy. The seats are blue and the carpet is blue. Image: IndiGo Overhead view of a seat triple in economy with a particular focus on the neck support. IndiGo employees celebrate the arrival of the A321XLR. Image: IndiGo Seatback of an economy class seat with a device holder, a cup holder, a USB-C power port and a coat hanger (on the side). Image: IndiGo
January 11, 2026 at 4:06 PM
runwaygirl.com
Service oddities mar otherwise solid American Airlines JFK-HND flight

A #nosetotail trip report by @airlineflyer.net aboard the carrier's regular 787-9 with doorless mini-suites

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/serv...

#aviation #paxex #avgeek
IFE screen and IFE remote are in view as the author sits in the business class mini-suite aboard AA's 787-9 Overhead view of a business class window seat on the AA 787-9 A delectable looking bento box is displayed on the tray table Snacks are offered atop a monument in business class
January 9, 2026 at 6:47 PM
runwaygirl.com
Packing more passengers into the most fuel-efficient aircraft and eliminating premium seating could reduce global aviation emissions by as much as three-quarters, a new Oxford study has suggested. runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/remo... #greenwing #paxex
Removal of lie-flats would slash airline emissions: study
Packing more passengers into the most fuel-efficient aircraft and eliminating premium seating could reduce global aviation emissions by as much as three-quarters, a new study has suggested.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Runway Girl
airlineflyer.net
Alaska is revealing its first 787 painted in the new "global livery" and also announced its largest ever fleet order.

105+35 737-10 and five 787-10.
January 7, 2026 at 2:24 PM
runwaygirl.com
Qatar Airways has become the first carrier to bring Starlink to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, revealing today that three 787-8s are now flying with the service.

Boeing's new Aerodynamic Shroud supports the phased array ESA atop the composite fuselage.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/qata... #PaxEx
Qatar Airways 787 in flight Scaled model of Boeing Aerodynamic Shroud, which is used to install ESAs, including Starlink phased array kit, on the 787
January 7, 2026 at 3:13 PM
runwaygirl.com
American is making good on its commitment to launch free Wi-Fi for loyalty members, saying a phased rollout will begin this month in partnership with AT&T.

Notably, AA intends to bring the complimentary service to its new 787-9 and 787-8 twinjets.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/amer... #PaxEx
American begins phased rollout of free Wi-Fi, including for new 787s - Runway Girl
American Airlines is making good on its commitment to launch free Wi-Fi for loyalty members, saying a phased rollout will begin this month in partnership with AT&T. Notably, the US major intends to br...
runwaygirlnetwork.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:29 PM
runwaygirl.com
SES, which provides IFC on over 3,000 commercial aircraft, has identified thousands of additional aircraft tails that would benefit from its partnership approach — one that sees it provide “almost consultant-type services” to airlines. runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/ses-... #aviation #satcom #paxex
SES multi-orbit IFC antenna atop an Avianca A320
January 5, 2026 at 1:38 PM
runwaygirl.com
You might call it ‘the COVID effect’ but winged privacy is having a serious moment in Premium Economy as a growing list of operators including AA, ANA and Eva adopt PE with this feature.

British Airways is also getting in on the action aboard its 787-9s. runwaygirlnetwork.com/2026/01/prem... #PaxEx
Winged privacy in PE on the refitted BA 787-9 Seatbacks of the PE seats on the refitted 787-9 show winged privacy from behind and seatback IFE screens.
January 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM
runwaygirl.com
Sometimes, airlines make laudable #PaxEx improvements with very little fanfare. And so it is with British Airways, which recently partnered with Hearlo to remove communication barriers for anyone facing hearing disabilities or speech challenges. runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/brit...
BA passenger uses the Hearlo app in Club Suite From check-in to boarding and inflight services, customers can type messages or select a Hearlo Card – simple pictograms for each stage of the journey.
December 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
runwaygirl.com
In a key milestone for Thai Airways’ fleet modernization, the carrier recently welcomed its first A321neo. The jet is kitted out with Thompson Vantage seats up front, Recaro R3s down back, Safran RAVE Ultra 4K IFE and Airbus’ HBCplus IFC.

Full story: runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/thai... #PaxEx
Thai employees celebrate in front of the new A321neo Thompson Vantage seats up front Recaro's R3 economy class seats down back Safran's RAVE Ultra 4K IFE from nose to tail
December 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
runwaygirl.com
Leveraging Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency connection as a foundation, United is integrating new cloud-based applications directly to the seatback and personal devices. Two key projects are underway — Spotify integration + Cloud Map.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/how-...

#paxex #avgeek
Passengers can access their Spotify account via the seatback A Cloud Map on a passenger's device provides relevant flight info, plus destination content, an AI assistant and the ability to share.
December 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Runway Girl
airlineflyer.net
Fun map and data from United! It’s the most booked international destination of 2025 from every US state.

Middle America sure does love Cancun, huh.
December 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
runwaygirl.com
Philippine Airlines is preparing to press its first A350-1000 into service after taking delivery of the three-class, 382-seat twinjet — complete with Collins’ Elevation doored mini-suites up front.

It's the first of nine A350-1000s destined for PAL.

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/phil... #PaxEx
Doored mini-suite in business class Premium Economy recliner on the A350-1000 A seat triple in economy class, which is configured 10-abreast PAL A350 arrives in Manila
December 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
runwaygirl.com
After reviewing American’s A321XLR inaugural from the vantage point of Flagship Suite business, @airchivesloan.bsky.social jumped on the return LAX-JFK flight in order to test Premium Economy.

His #nosetotail trip report is now live:

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/amer...

#PaxEx #AvGeek #A321XLR
The author, Chris Sloan, reclines in Premium Economy A hearty meal in PE on board Seatback of PE seat with winged privacy on the sides Front view of PE seat with blue seat cover and brown headrest
December 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
runwaygirl.com
Welcome to American Airlines' A321XLR inaugural flight in Flagship Suite Business Class

runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/amer...

@airchivesloan.bsky.social reviews the product on last night's JFK-LAX inaugural #nosetotail #paxex #avgeek
Seat 5A on the A321XLR Flagship Suite cabin view on the A321XLR The suite is private, even though the door hasn't yet been certified by the FAA. An IFE screen is tucked into its bezel. A delectable looking salad, plus cheese and tomato.
December 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM
runwaygirl.com
AJet Boeing 737 MAX gets fitted with connectivity from TCI runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/ajet... #PaxEx
AJet Boeing 737 MAX gets fitted with connectivity from TCI - Runway Girl
Turkish low-cost airline AJet has started rolling out TCI Aircraft Interiors’ multi-orbit capable Ka-band inflight connectivity system on its aircraft.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
runwaygirl.com
Op-Ed: The legacy IFE debate — remove, replace or reinvent?

In this Op-Ed, IdeaNova Technologies co-founder and CEO Juraj Siska explains how smart software innovation is enabling carriers to turn old embedded IFE systems into new digital platforms. runwaygirlnetwork.com/2025/12/op-e... #PaxEx
Op-Ed: The legacy IFE debate — remove, replace or reinvent? - Runway Girl
In this Op-Ed, IdeaNova Technologies co-founder and CEO Juraj Siska explains how smart software innovation is enabling carriers to turn old IFE systems into new digital platforms.
runwaygirlnetwork.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM