The first plane plane purposefully fitted for multi-orbit inflight internet service is back in service. Just over 50 days after it arrived at Consortia Aerospace in Gainesville, Florida for the service, the CRJ-700, operated by SkyWest for American Eagle, has completed its installation program and is carrying passengers once again.
The plane in question is N611SK. Its first passenger flight with the new kit installed was from Chicago to Aspen on 10 August. That flight operated a couple hours late, with the plane returning to the gate after taxiing out. A similar return to gate (hangar, really, as no passengers were on board) occurred on 9 August as the plane was preparing to ferry to O’Hare.
A request to American Airlines confirming if the service is active, as well as details on pricing, remains open at time of publication.
The aircraft is fitted with the Intelsat multi-orbit solution, featuring the Gilat/Stellar Blu Sidewinder terminal. American signed a deal in December 2023 to have its regional jet fleet fitted with this solution. It is expected to massively boost speeds and capacity for the carrier’s regional jet fleet.
Intelsat’s multi-orbit solution communicates with satellites in GEO (mostly Intelsat’s own satellites) or LEO (Eutelsat‘s OneWeb constellation) orbits. Previously the companies acknowledged that initial implementations would likely start with just GEO service, then transition to LEO service before ultimately switching to a truly dynamic offering that can switch as demand warrants.
The shift to American being the first installed airline, rather than Alaska Airlines, was first tipped by PaxEx.Aero in June.
Intelsat holds contracts with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Air Canada for its regional jet solution. The planes are all expected to be retrofit with the new hardware by the end of 2025.
Read more about Intelsat’s path to delivering multi-orbit inflight internet:
- Multi-orbit connectivity now flying on regional jets
- Embraer plans satellite connectivity for E175s
- Gilat to acquire Stellar Blu
- Shifting install sequencing
- Intelsat’s CR7 completes certification flights, returns home
- Intelsat celebrates arctic LEO/GEO testing with Utqiagvik visit
- Intelsat successfully tests Stellar Blu ESA in LEO/GEO service
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