Marisa Garcia

Aviation is taking advantage of outsider perspectives and capabilities to push innovation forward. With proper management, these programs could prove fruitful both for the industry and passengers. We’re maintaining healthy skepticism, but the solution to systemic problems is often fresh thinking.

With Qantas' decision, the question arises what other oneworld partners will do next. The Wi-Fi space race just heated up again, and it never even had time to cool down.

Norwegian hopes to capitalize on its growing fleet to offer Europe's largest network of direct transatlantic routes. Set backs in Cork aside, CEO Kjos wants to put all the Dreamliners and Boeing 737 MAX the airline has on order to good use.

While only 200 aircraft of American’s Wi-Fi installed fleet are involved in this counter-bid, Gogo will want to prove that its 2Ku Wi-Fi product can satisfactorily compete with ViaSat’s Exede Wi-Fi product.

Qantas promotes Australian leaders in technology and science with a special tour of Silicon Valley, and inspires passengers onboard with the world's first Tech Talk in the sky. Helping startups is the new startup for the aviation industry. We’re not sure what to make of this trend yet. Give us a minute.

The only thing faster than the speed of Wi-Fi the various competitors are introducing is the speed of change in this highly competitive sector.

A partnership with ACI-NA will help AirGrub make the right connections to add more airports and concessions in North America to those it already offers its customers.

The launch of the "MIA Airport Official 2.0" app is a big step towards proof of concept at Miami International Airport. Now we wait to see whether passengers enjoy blue-dot way-finding, and the personalized shopping and dining features, as much as the industry expects.

While we it’s difficult to make a direct correlation between box-office popularity and airline tickets sold, film franchise brand partnerships contribute intangibles, by aligning the airline with the values of the movie’s characters and its fanbase.

Whether you look at these 2016 predictions from the perspective of a consumer or the perspective of an airline, they are beneficial aims. They are also tall orders. We don’t think airlines can accomplish all of these goals in 2016, but they should make progress. Or they had better get busy starting.