Tag Archives: LiveTV

JetBlue sells LiveTV to the Thales Group for $399 million

JetBlue Airways (New York) announced today it has completed its sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary LiveTV to Thales Group for $399 million in cash. The sale will allow LiveTV to continue the innovation that has set it apart as the leader in inflight entertainment (IFE) and onboard connectivity under Thales ownership. JetBlue will maintain its relationship with LiveTV to continue providing customers with differentiated, industry-leading inflight entertainment and connectivity products.

LiveTV is the leading provider of live IFE and connectivity systems for commercial airlines. In 2013, LiveTV and its partner ViaSat introduced Ka-band satellite-driven onboard connectivity, a game-changing technological advancement.

Meanwhile Bloomberg Businessweek is taking a look at the challenges facing JetBlue (and others) in providing high speed inflight Internet service. Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Showing off the LiveTV antennae on top, Airbus A320-232 N821JB (msn 5417) banks before landing at Washington (Reagan National).

JetBlue Airways:

JetBlue Airways to fly from Newark to Santiago, Dominican Republic starting on May 1

JetBlue Airways (New York) has announced new nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI), effective on May 1, subject to receipt of government operating authority.

JetBlue’s schedule between Newark (EWR) and Santiago (STI) effective May 1, 2014:

EWR to STI: STI to EWR:

Depart – Arrive Depart – Arrive

8:40 a.m. – 12:29 p.m. 1:25 p.m. – 5:24 p.m.

JetBlue currently offers nonstop service to seven destinations from Newark: Boston; Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood; Fort Myers; Orlando; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tampa; and West Palm Beach.

JetBlue’s flights to Santiago will be operated with an Airbus A320.

In related news, LiveTV is the first company to gain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate approval on a more stringent requirement for bird strike testing for large domes mounted on the top of aircraft that are used for live television, satellite connectivity, inflight entertainment and other uses. These radomes are in service on Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900 and JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft with broadband WiFi.

Previously, the FAA accepted a probability analysis for test validation and did not require a physical bird strike for domes on the top of aircraft. However, the FAA recently advised LiveTV and others that actual bird strike tests would be required to demonstrate that a flight could be successfully completed with structural damage sustained when a radome is struck by a four-pound bird at speeds of over 400 miles per hour. Tests were conducted on LiveTV’s radome, which was co-developed with General Dynamics Ordinance and Tactical Systems.

This FAA approval will remove the bird strike exemption from LiveTV’s Supplemental Type Certificates needed for aircraft installation of satellite connectivity and inflight entertainment systems. This approval applied to an Airbus A320 STC and similar approvals are expected for Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft for LiveTV.

Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N507JT (msn 1240) with the LiveTV dome prepares to taxi at the Long beach focus city.

JetBlue Airways: