The project is designed as a phased experiment rather than a simple short-term test. Teams will first analyse airport operations in detail to identify where robots can be used safely and effectively. This will be followed by repeated trials that simulate real working conditions on the ground. The idea is to gradually build a system where robots and humans work together in a structured way. In the long term, the partners hope to create a more sustainable model for airport operations. 

The robots will initially be used for physically demanding tasks such as loading and unloading cargo containers and moving equipment on the tarmac. These machines are built in a humanoid form, meaning they can move in a way that is similar to humans and operate in spaces designed for people. This allows them to work within existing airport infrastructure without major changes. During demonstrations, a robot measuring around 130 centimetres was seen carefully pushing cargo onto a conveyor belt and even waving to a colleague. The robots can operate for two to three hours before needing to recharge, and they are currently controlled remotely by human operators, mirroring human movements. 

One of the main reasons behind this initiative is the growing labour shortage in Japan’s aviation sector. The country is dealing with a declining working-age population while at the same time welcoming a rising number of international visitors. More than seven million tourists arrived in Japan in just the first two months of 2026, adding pressure to airport services. Ground handling work is often physically demanding and requires long shifts, making it harder to attract and retain staff. By introducing robots, airlines hope to reduce the physical strain on workers and maintain smooth operations. 

The issue goes beyond aviation and reflects a broader national challenge. Japan may need more than 6.5 million foreign workers by 2040 to meet its economic goals as the domestic workforce continues to shrink. This creates political and social pressure, as immigration levels remain a sensitive topic. In this context, automation and robotics are increasingly seen as part of the solution. The use of humanoid robots in airports is therefore not only about efficiency, but also about responding to long-term demographic changes. 

The technology behind the robots combines artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and remote operation. This allows them to perform tasks that require both strength and precision while still being supervised by human operators. GMO Internet Group, the parent company involved in the project, has even declared 2026 as the “First Year of Humanoids”. The aim is to accelerate the use of this technology across different industries, not just aviation. Airports are being used as a testing ground because they present real-world challenges that require adaptable solutions. 

Robots are already present in some Japanese airports, where they are used for tasks such as security patrols and customer service. The introduction of humanoid robots for ground handling is, therefore, a continuation of an ongoing trend rather than a completely new development. What makes this project different is the focus on physically demanding back-end operations that have traditionally relied on human labour. These tasks are less visible to passengers but are essential for keeping flights running on time. 

Japan’s labor shortage is so severe it burned through its entire 5-year quota for foreign restaurant workers in record time.

The food service sector (restaurants, hospital/nursing home meal services) hit its 50,000 cap early – new Specified Skilled Worker visa applications…

— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) April 26, 2026

Despite the growing role of automation, human workers will remain essential in airport operations. Certain responsibilities, especially those related to safety and decision-making, cannot be handled by robots. Officials involved in the project have made it clear that the goal is to support employees rather than replace them. By taking over repetitive and physically heavy tasks, robots could help improve working conditions and reduce fatigue. Human oversight will continue to be necessary to ensure that all operations meet strict safety standards.

The trial at Haneda Airport reflects a wider shift in the global aviation industry. Airports around the world are exploring new technologies to handle increasing passenger numbers and improve efficiency. These include biometric boarding systems, automated baggage handling, and autonomous vehicles. Humanoid robots could become another tool in this transition, especially in locations where labour shortages are becoming more severe. Their ability to work in human-designed environments gives them an advantage over more specialised machines.

In the future, the role of these robots could expand beyond cargo handling. Japan Airlines is already considering using them for tasks such as cleaning aircraft cabins and operating ground support equipment. As the technology improves, robots may become more autonomous and capable of interacting more naturally with both staff and passengers. If the current trial proves successful, similar systems could be introduced at other airports in Japan and beyond. This would mark an important step towards a more automated and flexible airport environment.

L’article Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to trial humanoid robots for ground operations est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Offering shareholders $90 per share in cash, or the equivalent value in its stock, Amazon described the Globalstar takeover as part of its “long-term vision for space-based connectivity” and said a “next generation” satellite system could follow by 2028. Despite Bezos’ well-documented ambitions in the space race, his Leo network is seriously behind competitors, with only 200 satellites at present playing catch-up with Elon Musk’s Starlink (which boasts more than 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, serving over 10 million customers already).

Leo already boasts a contract with US airline Delta, a contract recently hailed by Andy Jassy, President and CEO of Amazon, as “a great example of the impact and scale” the company’s technology could achieve, adding: “People increasingly want to stay connected wherever they are in the world, and Leo’s speed and reliability is going to have a big impact for businesses, governments, and consumers. It’s going to make the in-flight experience so much better, and it’s going to change what’s possible while traveling.”

Leo is slated to grow by another 3,200 satellites in Earth’s low orbit by 2029, Amazon has promised, but approximately half of those need to be deployed before ​July to meet regulatory requirements.

Amazon Leo + @Apple

In parallel, we have also signed a long-term agreement with Apple for Amazon Leo to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models, allowing users to text emergency services, message friends and family, request roadside assistance, and… pic.twitter.com/UujASAfYgT

— Amazon Leo (@Amazonleo) April 14, 2026

Globalstar will add only around 50 satellites into the mix but its appeal to Amazon lies in worldwide infrastructure, including in California, Georgia, and Louisiana in the United States, as well as in Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, and Toulouse. It also serves Apple Watch and iPhone with emergency SOS call functionality—a role that will continue under the Amazon deal, made possible by Globalstar’s existing low-data Direct-to-Device (D2D) technology that allows devices to connect  in limited cellular coverage zones without ground-based cellular towers. Acquiring that D2D capability is being seen as a coup for Amazon by commentators.

Leo is not Bezos’ only satellite venture however. Blue Origin, his rocket company, is aiming to launch 5,400 satellites by 2027, as part of its new TeraWave communications network, designed to capture the business, data centre, and governmental market with download speeds of up to six terabits that put rivals to shame.

Meanwhile, competition regulators such as the US Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr have signalled an “open-minded” positive stance on the merger, which is being viewed as a boost to innovation in the field of satellite communications. The markets also responded well: Globalstar’s share value rose more than 10%, on top of a 6% gain over the two weeks proceeding the deal. Amazon’s stock also went up, by 3%.

L’article Amazon plays catch up with Starlink with $11.6 billion purchase of Globalstar est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Multi-modal platform Omio already features among Travel Tomorrow’s must-have travel apps for 2026. It serves a whopping one billion users annually, allowing them to plan journeys across 47 countries and multiple modes of transport. It has now launched the additional agentic capability of in-app ChatGPT, describing the move in a press release as “a key step in Omio’s ambition to become a leading AI-native platform.” The breakthrough offers passengers the possibility to search and compare travel options in real time through conversational prompts.

Omio highlights that the development comes at a time when “over half of travellers want artificial intelligence to plan and book their trips.” The firm says it will meet demand from ChatGPT’s 900 million weekly users through its global network of more than 3,000 transport partners.

“We are enabling thousands of travel providers to be discovered in new ways and to extend their reach within a global, intelligent ecosystem,” said Omio’s founder and CEO, Naren Shaam, hailing the app’s launch as “a step towards building the infrastructure that will shape how billions of journeys are discovered and booked worldwide now, and in the future.”

While third-party search and compare travel booking platforms already exist, they often still require consumers to switch between multiple sites and tick multiple checkboxes and filters. Omio’s ChatGPT tool merges a global travel inventory with advanced large language models, following a year-long collaboration with artificial general intelligence mission, OpenAI, and now allows users to “ask the same questions they would pose to a travel agent” to “instantly explore routes, prices, and options across multiple modes before booking,” the firm claims.

Omio provides examples that it says show off the natural style of questions that can be asked, including:

• What’s the fastest and cheapest route from Rome to Florence this Saturday?
• Should I take a train or a flight from Paris to Barcelona?
• I need to get from São Paulo to Rio tomorrow morning. Should I take a bus or fly?

Promising “more exciting announcements to follow,” Tomas Vocetka, Omio’s Chief Technology Officer, welcomed an era of “intelligent travel,” that would see consumers benefitting from technology that “anticipates your journey before you even start.”

The Omio ChatGPT app is out now and available worldwide in English. 

L’article Omio launches ChatGPT app bringing conversational AI travel planning to millions est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Hilton AI Planner, now in beta on Hilton’s official website, functions as a generative AI concierge that uses conversational intelligence to assist guests in discovering hotels across the company’s global portfolio, comparing amenities and crafting travel plans. The tool is initially being rolled out to a limited segment of site traffic and will expand to more users over time. 

Rather than relying on traditional search filters and menus, the AI Planner lets users describe their preferences or travel ideas using natural language. In response, the system provides recommendations on destinations, property options, and relevant hotel features, offering a more intuitive interface to guide people during the planning process. 

In its announcement, Hilton said the tool “uses conversational intelligence to deliver real‑time responses” and aims to “help travelers plan memorable stays” with the company’s hotels worldwide. 

Michael Leidinger, senior vice president and chief information officer at Hilton, described the launch as another milestone in the brand’s innovation strategy. “For decades, Hilton has been at the forefront of hospitality innovation — from the award‑winning Hilton Honors app to the most widely available Digital Key and the industry-first Confirmed Connecting Room,” Leidinger said, underscoring Hilton’s ongoing investment in digital solutions. “The launch of the Hilton AI Planner marks another step forward in our journey to reimagine the travel experience for Hilton guests. This is just the beginning and a preview of where we’re going, as we continue to focus on providing thoughtful, purposeful innovation that empowers travelers,” he added.

Hilton’s announcement comes amid a broader industry trend toward integrating AI and other tech tools into the customer journey. Hotel companies and online platforms are increasingly deploying conversational planning assistants and digital support features to facilitate the travel planning process.

The rollout reflects industry observations that hotels are increasingly adopting smart technologies and spatial intelligence to improve efficiency and enrich customer experience. However, a recent survey of hospitality operators suggests that while tools such as smart room systems and AI concierge chatbots are becoming more widespread, many hotel guests still prefer some degree of direct human service, particularly for check-in and other front-of-house interactions.

Hilton has said it will monitor user feedback as the AI Planner evolves, using insights from early testers to expand the tool’s capabilities. The company views this beta phase as part of a “test‑and‑learn” approach that could shape further enhancements to the planning tool and Hilton’s broader digital ecosystem. 

L’article Hilton rolls out AI concierge to help travellers plan stays est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

At the end of 2024, Chinese company DeepSeek launched its much-talked-about V3 AI model, followed by its R1 model at the start of 2025. As tech news site The Information believes the next-generation V4 model will soon hit the market, rival companies have launched their new developments en masse.

Some of the most important launches include those of Alibaba, ByteDance, and Zhipu. China is generally considered to be the most important competitor to the U.S. concerning AI models, as DeepSeek even became the top-rated free application available on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. after V3 hit the market, overtaking ChatGPT.

Qwen Intelligence Files: All-in-One Vision. Alibaba's Qwen-3.5 Plus is here! With native multimodality, it reads, hears, and sees all at once. Unified intelligence for any case.
Coding plan now just $5/mo.
:https://t.co/XDafsi6Bhx#AlibabaCloud #Qwen #Qwen35Plus… pic.twitter.com/gpIdB48ieA

— Alibaba Cloud (@alibaba_cloud) February 19, 2026

Alibaba: Qwen 3.5

Qwen 3.5 hit the market on 16 February 2026, and according to the e-commerce company, it can understand text, images, and videos across 200 languages. Moreover, it should be able to deploy AI agents – indecent decision-making and task-executing systems – five times faster than its competitors, while being 60% cheaper than Qwen 2.5.

“It demonstrates outstanding results across a full range of benchmark evaluations, including reasoning, coding, agent capabilities, and multimodal understanding, empowering developers and enterprises to achieve significantly greater productivity”, the company said in a press release.

Qwen 3.5 is available both in an open-weight and a hosted version.

Qwen3.5-397B-A17B is here: The first open-weight model in the Qwen3.5 series.

Native multimodal. Trained for real-world agents.
Powered by hybrid linear attention + sparse MoE and large-scale RL environment scaling.
8.6x–19.0x decoding throughput vs Qwen3-Max
201… pic.twitter.com/Pq0qIk54MB

— Qwen (@Alibaba_Qwen) February 16, 2026

ByteDance: Doubao 2.0 and SeeDance 2.0

ByteDance, the company behind social media platform TikTok, did not release one but two new AI models. Doubao 2.0 marks the second version of its chatbot and should be able to perform similarly to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

Aside from that, ByteDance also released the second version of its image-to-video and text-to-video app, SeeDance 2.0. Users can easily create immersive audio and video. However, the American Motion Picture Association already released a statement criticising the AI model.

“In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorised use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale. By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs. ByteDance should immediately cease its infringing activity”, the association said. ByteDance told the BBC it would be strengthening the current safeguards to protect intellectual copyright.

Zhipu: GLM-5

Zhipu’s open-source GLM-5 model is said to show better coding capabilities and an increased ability to perform long-running agent tasks compared to its predecessor. GLM-5 is engineered for agentic intelligence, advanced multi-step reasoning, and frontier-level performance across coding, creative writing, and complex problem-solving, according to the company.

When Zhipu went public on the Hong Kong stock exchange in January 2026, it raised HKD 4.35 billion (€465 million), which will be put into the further development of GLM-5. Due to its popularity and an insufficient number of chip clusters, however, some GLM-5 users have been experiencing some delays.

Introducing GLM-5: From Vibe Coding to Agentic Engineering

GLM-5 is built for complex systems engineering and long-horizon agentic tasks. Compared to GLM-4.5, it scales from 355B params (32B active) to 744B (40B active), with pre-training data growing from 23T to 28.5T tokens.… pic.twitter.com/uGYQUjIbbs

— Z.ai (@Zai_org) February 11, 2026

Other Chinese companies to have launched their AI models in the days before the Chinese New Year are MiniMax, NetEase Youdao,  Tencent, Dexmal, and iFlytek.

L’article Chinese companies introduce new AI models ahead of Lunar New Year 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

An AI-powered blog on Tasmania Tours’ website publicised the attractions of “Weldborough Hot Springs,” a forest wellness destination supposedly located among the forests of Australia’s archipelago state. CNN has seen screenshots of the blog pages, promoting a “peaceful escape” in the” tranquil haven.”

The blog has since been taken down because Weldborough, in northeastern Tasmania, has no hot springs. Instead, it is bordered by the North George River—a “freezing” course of water where tin and sapphire prospectors wear wetsuits, according to Kristy Probert, owner of the localWeldborough Hotel. She has had to disappoint “droves” of visitors arriving in the town seeking the “untouched” geothermal springs “rich in therapeutic minerals,” that the post described, as reported by ABC News. The non-existent “secluded forest retreat” was such a “favourite” according to the fake AI information, that it had been ranked in a list of the “7 Best Hot Springs Tasmania Experiences for 2026.”

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Weldborough is not easy to reach, so tourists making a special trip there for the hot springs only to find they were an AI hallucination became increasingly angry at their wasted journey. Australian Tours and Cruises, the firm that published the AI blog, confirmed to ABC, “our AI has messed up completely,” but insisted they are a “legit” company. In late January 2026, they described “the online hate and damage to our business reputation” as “soul-destroying.”

The AI hallucination the tour company put out has not only wasted people’s time and travel budget, but also, experts note, sowed potentially dangerous misinformation, encouraging visitors to enter low-temperature waters and to explore remote parts of Tasmania on foot, despite the region’s lack of mobile phone and data coverage.

Elsewhere, AI has featured non-existent hiking trails on hazardous routes, where the mapping is fatally inaccurate. Another reason for caution is that as AI travel planning tools proliferate, so do the ways in which scammers might try to use them for darker purposes. It’s a game of cat-and-mouse, with legitimate developers trying to find ways to stop swindlers in turn.

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But Australian Tours and Cruises are far from alone in attempting to harness AI. Airlines like Delta now propose AI “butlers.” Trip.com has developed an AI genie, Kayak began supporting AI plugins in 2023, and other search giants like Booking.com, Expedia, and Google are constantly evolving ChatGPT-powered AI features in response to apparent demand. Gemini’s “Gems” is supposed to offer a personalised travel guide service, making trip planning more intuitive. Even Google warns that results are “for illustrative purposes and may vary,” adding: “Check responses for accuracy. Internet and a browser for setup. Available in select languages, and to users 18+.”

Whether scams or hallucinations or so-called “AI slop”, nearly all AI itineraries contain errors, Hardy highlights, saying “90% of itineraries that AI generates have mistakes in them.”

Yet, around four in 10 tourists now use AI for travel advice or itineraries, says Anne Hardy, adjunct professor in tourism at Southern Cross University, Australia, telling CNN people “trust AI more than review sites.” Hardy’s findings echo research by the UK travel industry association, ABTA, whose 2025 survey revealed the proportion of holidaymakers using artificial intelligence (AI) to plan their trips had doubled over the year.

L’article Tourists seek fake hot springs in Australia, following AI misinformation est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Thanks to technology that now fits neatly in our jeans pocket, travelling has never been easier. Flights can be booked in minutes, directions can be found instantly in almost any city (and often far beyond city limits), accommodation can be secured on the go, and even complaints can be resolved faster online than through the old ritual of endless phone queues. Language barriers, whether spoken or written, have largely faded away.

Of course, what still matters is having Wi-Fi or mobile data and enough battery life. Less obvious is which apps are truly worth keeping. With countless reviews, updates, and overlapping features, choosing can feel unnecessarily complicated.

So we did the sorting for you. Based on expert recommendations and feedback from frequent travellers, here are the essential travel apps for 2026: reliable, widely used, and genuinely useful.

Itinerary Management & Organisation

Tripit is often called ‘organisational gold’ by Reddit users. The app creates a master itinerary for you by pulling information directly from your email confirmations, including flights, hotels, and restaurant bookings. It works offline and syncs with your calendar.

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Booking flights and long-distance travel

Skyscanner is a flight search engine that scans all the top airlines and booking platforms, allowing users to compare flight fares and other travel costs in one place, especially useful for flexible travellers.

Another reliable option is Google Flights: fast, transparent, and excellent for tracking fares over time, it is a favourite among travellers who plan ahead.

If you are using more than one mode of transport, Omio acts as your travel agent by comparing flights, trains, buses, and ferries across Europe and beyond. It presents routes, duration,s and prices all in one place.

Navigation and getting around

Google Maps is now indispensable and comes installed on most phones. Its offline feature makes it doubly useful when in areas with little coverage.

Rome2Rio calculates routes and price estimates for travel between cities, regions, or even countries. It compares planes, trains, buses, ferries, and cars.

Citymapper is exceptionally accurate when it comes to public transport in major cities, combining buses, tubes, trains, cycling, and walking routes in real time.

Maps.me is popular with hikers and travellers who like to go off the beaten track, offering fully offline maps that remain detailed and reliable, even in remote areas.

Waze remains a must-have if you are renting a car, thanks to its highly responsive real-time traffic updates, roadworks alerts, and route optimisation.

Available in 70 countries and more than 10,000 cities worldwide, Uber has recently expanded its services to include car rental alongside taxi, courier, and food delivery.

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Money and payments

Both Wise and Revolut are recommended for international spending and transfers, offering better currency exchange rates and lower fees than local banks or bureaux de change. While Wise is often preferred for its transparent, straightforward pricing, Revolut offers extras such as travel insurance, lounge access, and eSIMs.

XE Currency Converter app provides reliable, updated currency rates and will give you the last updated rate offline.

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Accommodation

Booking.com offers one of the most extensive selections worldwide, including hotels, hostels, and short-term rentals. Its Genius loyalty programme often unlocks discounts and upgrades (or free breakfast). Tip: App-only prices can sometimes be 15–30% cheaper than desktop rates.

Airbnb is still the best option for apartments and longer stays, particularly for families or travellers seeking kitchens and local neighbourhoods.

Lastminute.com is best for last-minute trips, specialising in unsold rooms in luxury hotels at reduced prices, making it ideal for short city breaks.

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Splitting expenses and budgeting

Split or Tricount are both extremely useful when travelling with friends, helping track shared expenses and settle balances at the end of the trip. Tricount is particularly popular in Europe.

To keep receipts organised, Genius Scan turns your phone into a document scanner, ideal for expense claims or post-trip accounting.

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Connectivity and communication

Airalo is an eSIM provider for mobile data which works in over 200 destinations. You can access it directly from your device, so there’s no need to search for shops or worry about losing a physical SIM card.

WhatsApp – because obviously.

For those rare occasions when you need to call a landline, such as a customer service number abroad, MyTello offers low-cost international calls.

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Language and translation

Google Translate has improved significantly over the last two years, now offering voice, text, and image translation. With offline language packs, it’s ideal for reading menus, road signs, or having everyday conversations.

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And finally…

Flush, the not-so-glamorous, but indispensable toilet finder, with its huge database of 200,000+ public loos worldwide.

One last tip: make sure to download everything you might need offline before you leave, to update all your apps and to check reviews in your app store for local reliability.

L’article Must have travel apps for 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The concept is simple. Users are asked to press a button every 24–48 hours to confirm that they are still alive. If they fail to do so, an emergency contact is notified.

While it may sound bleak at first, the app’s global viral success proves its relevance. Launched quietly in May 2025, the app has exploded in popularity in recent weeks, reflecting the deep structural changes that have occurred in Chinese society over the past few decades.

China is projected to have 200 million single-person households by 2030, due to record-low marriage rates, long working hours and high youth unemployment.

The primary driver is the fear of dying alone and going unnoticed for days, weeks, or even longer. Once mostly associated with the elderly, this anxiety is now shared by the younger generation.

The app positions itself as a ‘safety companion for solo office workers, students living away from home, or anyone choosing a solitary lifestyle’.

“I sometimes wonder: if I died alone, who would collect my body?” one user told Chinese media.

The app is deliberately very basic. It requires no registration or login, instead relying on SMS/email verification. Once logged in, users are asked to add the name and email address of an emergency contact, choose how many days of inactivity should trigger an alert and receive reminders to check in.

If users fail to respond within the timeframe, the alert is then sent automatically to the contact.

Stuart Gietel-Basten, a professor at HKUST, notes that the app taps into a “feeling of atomisation’”caused by extreme urban isolation. One of the founders, who calls himself Mr Lyu, echoes this sentiment, telling the Financial Times that the ‘strong sense of loneliness… accompanied by worries about unforeseen events occurring without anyone knowing’ experienced by people living alone.

Initially free, the app now costs around 8 yuan (about €1). Little is known about the developers beyond the fact that the three founders were born after 1995, built the app in Zhengzhou (in the Henan province of China) and spent 1,000 yuan developing it. They have since said that they are considering selling a minority stake in order to fund further development, including features aimed at users over 60.

However, Gietel-Basten cautions that the app should not be seen as a substitute for real social support. “If an app like this can prevent one person from dying alone or taking their own life, that is positive, of course,” he said. “But you would never want this to replace more meaningful social interactions.”

Others have raised practical concerns. For elderly users with cognitive decline, forgetting to press the button could result in repeated false alarms and distress for relatives, a problem that developers will need to address if they hope to expand to older demographics.

Social isolation is already recognised by the World Health Organization as a major risk factor for poor mental health and increased mortality among older people. Europe faces similar challenges: over 75 million households consisted of single adults without children in 2024, and more than a third of Europeans report feeling lonely.

In this context, Demumu (Are You Dead?) is unlikely to remain an anomaly. This app and others like it signal just how much family, neighbours and community are being missed, as technology steps into a space once occupied by them.

L’article Are you dead? The viral check-in app reflecting a changing China est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

O’Leary has said Ryanair would not fit the Starlink system because its fleet would suffer a “two percent fuel penalty” because of the extra weight and drag that would ensue if the hardware for Starlink Wi-Fi were fitted to the aircraft. The system requires installing an antenna and radome on the plane’s body, increasing its weight and reducing aerodynamic efficiency.

Starlink has denied that the cost is as much as two percent, a figure that Michael Nicolls, VP of Starlink Engineering, has said refers to its older aircraft Wi-Fi terminals. Nicolls has highlighted company data showing a fuel penalty of 0.3% or less, for a Boeing 737-800 using the newer lightweight design.

Accused by Musk of being misinformed, O’Leary dismissed Starlink again on Irish radio broadcaster Newstalk, telling listeners Musk is “an idiot — very wealthy, but still an idiot.” He added that Musk’s social media platform X is a “cesspit.”

The two then traded more blows, with Musk calling O’Leary “an utter idiot” and demanding the airline “Fire him.” He went on to insist O’Leary had made a “factor of 10” error on Starlink’s fuel-burn impact and repeated: “Fire this imbecile.”

But shortly after Musk’s retorts, a technical problem caused an outage on the billionaire’s X platform, prompting Ryanair to make fun of X, replying: “perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?”

Although a 2025 Cornell University research paper shows Starlink is one of the world’s best on-the-move Wi-Fi providers, achieving more than 200 Mbps, which is in-line with home performance, commenters on-line have questioned whether the European market for in-plane Wi-Fi is the same as that in the United States. Ryanair runs a notoriously tight operation, charging flyers auxiliary fees for “extras” to keep costs and ticket prices low. Unlike many airlines that offer free Wi-Fi using Starlink, it is likely O’Leary would have wanted to make users pay. 

L’article Ryanair and Elon Musk exchange insults over Starlink Wi-Fi row est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, confirmed the move on 1 January, following news in December of an anomaly that sent a cloud of debris into space and caused Starlink to lose contact with one of its satellites. “The satellite is largely intact, tumbling, and will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and fully demise within weeks,” Starlink said in a post on X. The US Space Force and NASA were reported to be helping to monitor the “tens” of pieces of debris.

At the time, the incident was blamed on an internal issue and an explosion rather than a collision. Since then, a statement from Nicolls explains the need for the mass satellite descent: “Lowering the satellites results in condensing Starlink orbits, and will increase space safety in several ways,” he wrote on X, adding: “the number of debris objects and planned satellite constellations is significantly lower below 500 km, reducing the aggregate likelihood of collision.”

Starlink is beginning a significant reconfiguration of its satellite constellation focused on increasing space safety. We are lowering all @Starlink satellites orbiting at ~550 km to ~480 km (~4400 satellites) over the course of 2026. The shell lowering is being tightly…

— Michael Nicolls (@michaelnicollsx) January 1, 2026

The move also comes, as Nicolls laid out, “As solar minimum approaches” in 2030-2032. Solar intensity varies on an 11-year cycle—a phenomenon scientists have been measuring for nearly 300 years. During the solar minimum phase, drag on satellites is reduced, meaning debris lingers in space longer, taking up to four years to descend, and increasing the likelihood of a Kessler Syndrome incident where a collision causes debris that causes a knock-on collision, and so on.

Bringing the satellites down now to a lower level will mean, if there is an incident, any debris should come down faster despite the lack of drag in solar minimum, clearing junk from space more quickly, in a matter of months.

Reliable high-speed internet in even the most remote locations and harsh conditions https://t.co/v0e34v0aS1

— Starlink (@Starlink) December 28, 2025

Nonetheless, risks remain. The 2026 migration only concerns half of SpaceX’s almost 9,400 operational satellite craft, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is being filled by other players, such as the Chinese, who are planning to put over 10,000 satellites into two configurations. The European Space Agency (ESA) has reported 40,000 objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at below 2,000 km altitude, as well as 1.2 million objects in space that may seem small at down to one centimetre in size but could be “catastrophic” in a collision scenario, the agency says.

Starlink has numerous contracts with airlines such as United, Virgin Atlantic, and Scandinavian (as well as other clients) to provide in-flight Wi-Fi to airline passengers.

L’article Starlink satellites to come closer to Earth in 2026 to reduce collision risk est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.