In-flight WiFi is the new revenue stream, even for low-cost airlines. The cost of inflight WiFi

It seems hardly a week goes by these days without some airline somewhere in the world saying that they are bringing in-flight wifi to their fleet.  The last few weeks no exception with one of the latest airlines to tell the world about its future sky-high connectivity plans being the ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines in the USA. 

Recently the airline announced it has signed a deal with the Thales Group to introduce Wi-Fi on all of its planes by summer 2019, claiming to be will also become the first ultra-low-cost carrier in the Americas to offer Wi-Fi. 

“We’re thrilled to enhance the in-flight Guest experience with the addition of new-generation Wi-Fi,” said Ted Christie, Spirit Airline’s President. “By next summer, every plane in our fleet should be fully equipped to keep our Guests connected in the skies. It’s just one of the many investments we’ve made and will continue to make for our Guests.”  Of course, Ted's pleased with Spirit charging an average price of $6.50 for high-speed web browsing and streaming depending on route and demand, it represents a big revenue stream for the airline. 

Many other airlines, including low-cost ones, have already or are planning to introduce wifi capabilities to their aircraft as they hunt for even more of our pounds, dollars or euros.  Here's a brief example of airlines offering wifi onboard and some of the sky-high fees for connecting to the net at 10,000 feet and above!

Cabin Bag Fire

A portable charger battery pack burst into flames in the overhead luggage compartment of a China Southern Airlines aircraft on Sunday 25th February afternoon while passengers were in the process of boarding.  

The fire caused a three-hour flight delay to flight CZ3539, which had been scheduled to depart Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport heading for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at around noon.

British Airways codeshare deal with China Southern Airlines

British Airways customers are set to gain access to even more Chinese cities thanks to a new codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines.

As part of the new agreement, customers can book seats on China Southern Airlines flights to four destinations in China – Shenyang, Harbin, Changchun and Dalian. Seats are available for sale on ba.com, for travel from today.

The agreement means that British Airways customers will now be able to visit the stunning Shenyang Imperial Palace, wander the winter wonderland that is Harbin Ice and Snow World, marvel at the Puppet Emperor’s Palace in Changchun, and explore Xinghai Square in Dalian. The four destinations are also important business hubs in China, making trade between British and Chinese businesses across the country even easier.

British Airways customers will be able to connect on to Shenyang and Harbin through Shanghai, connect on to Dalian through Beijing, and connect on to Changchun through either Shanghai or Beijing. British Airways offers 10 weekly flights to Shanghai and seven to Beijing, from London Heathrow.

As part of the codeshare agreement, British Airways Executive Club members can collect Avios when booking on the British Airways code on China Southern Airlines flights.

More on this story follows 

London to Cairns New Route For China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines have announced they will be operating a new route between London's Heathrow Airport and Cairns in Australia, routed through Guangzhou.  The new route starts on 13th December 2017 and will serves as an additional connection from the UK's capital and the warmer climbs of Australia as well as the mysterious magical China. 

Flights depart Heathrow for Guangzhou twice daily, and connections to Cairns will be departing Guangzhou three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

It's good news for both British and  Australian travellers as it opens up another flight route option between the two countries. Fares between London and Cairns start at a low competitive fare of £578 return. 

For China Southern Airlines, Cairns is just another Australian destination the airline flies to, they have services to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. 

"Opening up Far North Queensland to British travellers not only gives them the opportunity to explore the vast country further but also makes getting from the North to the South of Australia even more accessible" explains Nick Newman, commercial manager of China Southern Airlines, UK & Ireland."

"We already operate flights to the core four destinations along the East Coast, so by adding Cairns to our portfolio, we can give passengers scope to discover the entire East side without having to track back across covered ground."

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Profits Dip For China Southern

China Southern Airlines on Tuesday posted a 11.6 percent fall in first-half profit, as foreign exchange gains failed to offset the impact of higher fuel prices and lower returns on international flights.

China’s largest airline by passenger numbers posted net profit attributable to shareholders of 2.77 billion yuan ($420.08 million) over the six months to June, on an 11.5 percent increase in revenue to 60.3 billion yuan.

Passenger yields fell 2 percent, dragged down by a 7.5 percent slump on international routes, even as revenue per kilometre grew 12.5 percent. Cargo yields rose 13.9 percent on the back of a resurgence in cargo traffic globally.

787 For Perth

Asia's biggest airline China Southern to use Boeing 787's on Perth route. 

China Southern Airlines has been flying from from Guangzhou to Perth since 2011, operating three flights a week. In an announcement this week the airline says it will....

China Southern Profits Dive

China Southern Airlines, Asia’s biggest carrier by passenger numbers, said first-half profit tumbled 84 percent because of an economic slowdown, higher fuel prices and currency fluctuations. Net income fell to 449 million yuan ($70.6 million) from 2.76 billion yuan a year earlier, the Guangzhou, China-based company said in a filing to Shanghai stock exchange today. That compares with the 570 million yuan median of three analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg News.