High-speed Wi-Fi is coming for the turbo-prop market in a big way. ATR announced this week it secured certification for the Starlink system on the ATR 72 family, paving the way for airline installations.
Starlink opens up a new era for ATR, offering unparalleled levels of comfort and passenger experience in the regional market. This achievement demonstrates our dedication to staying ahead of the curve, responding to the latest travel trends in line with our customers’ expectations, and collaborating with industry-leading partners who share a vision of excellence and innovation to transform the way people experience air travel. – Daniel Cuchet, Senior Vice-President Engineering at ATR
Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the effort. The carrier announced plans to fit its domestic fleet – including the ATRs – in December 2023. The companies were aiming for a late 2024 certification and trial start at that time. Getting it done in January 2025 is not too significant a slip, all things considered.
“We’re always looking at how new and innovative technology can deliver improved customer experiences and with the world’s largest satellite constellation, exploring in-motion connectivity on our aircraft with Starlink was a no brainer,” added Nikhil Ravishankar, Chief Digital Officer at Air New Zealand. “Whether travelling for work or leisure, we know maintaining seamless internet connectivity is something that will transform the travel experience for customers. We can’t wait to bring connectivity to our domestic flights. Collaborating with ATR and the PMV Engineering team has been fantastic, and their expertise has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.”
PMV engineering developed the STC and oversaw the certification process for the solution. The service will be available as a retrofit installation for both the ATR 72-500 and 72-600 models.
Air New Zealand was the first carrier to announce plans for fitting inflight internet service on its prop planes, but it is not the only one. Air Canada recently confirmed its DASH 8 aircraft would also see service added. De Havilland Aircraft announced plans for Starlink fitting on the type in 2022. Air Canada has not confirmed which supplier will handle its props; the balance of its fleet flies with Intelsat‘s Ku-band service on board.
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