Thales is partnering with satellite-operator SES to launch a new high-speed, Ka-band-based commercial aircraft connectivity service in the Americas next year.

Royal Jet, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered, award-winning international luxury flight service provider, has taken delivery of a striking new 34 seat Boeing Business Jet – the world's first BBJ equipped with KA-band satellite broadband Internet technology. The fully-customised, VVIP aircraft will be followed by a sister corporate airliner due to arrive in Abu Dhabi in a month.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines will invest SEK500 million ($52.5 million) over the next three years to upgrade its short- and medium-haul Airbus A320 fleet with full cabin upgrades and onboard Wi-Fi services via a partnership with communications company ViaSat.

Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia is to be the launch customer for KID-Systeme’s SKYfi Club system, a wireless streaming onboard platform designed for passenger and corporate aircraft.

Finnair will begin installing ViaSat’s high-speed Wi-Fi network on its entire Airbus A320 family aircraft fleet in May 2017.

Thales InFlyt Experience is expecting, before June, to sign up “several big orders” from Gulf customers for its next generation in-seat IFEC solution, which will offer passengers a connected experience including IPTV customisable streaming content embedded in the seatback and via personal devices.

US-based avionics and IT provider Rockwell Collins has been granted a global license by Brazil’s national telecommunications agency Anatel to sell satellite connectivity services in Brazil.

Data collection and transmission company Avionica has joined forces with mobile connectivity provider GigSky to provide turnkey global data services to airlines.