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NSG Expands Backlog, Talks Future Growth

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Uzbekistan Airways' A321neo fleet will come online from 2026 with the NSG Ka-band services
Uzbekistan Airways’ A321neo fleet will come online from 2026 with the NSG Ka-band services

NEO Space Group (NSG) continues to grow its inflight connectivity backlog, signing Uzbekistan Airways and adding to its prior Thai Airways announcement. With those commitments the company is also talking more about its approach to the market, and why it believes it has a more viable product offering than some of the competition.

We’re not in the providing internet to airlines business. We are in the providing the best possible passenger experience business, of which providing high speed internet is a component.

– Martijn Blanken, CEO of NEO Space Group

Growing with Thai Airways

The Thai Airways deal extends the pair’s prior agreement to now include 787s in production at Boeing. Those aircraft are to be line-fit with the terminal from Safran Passenger Innovations and activated on the NSG network when they are delivered from the factory. The new planes are expected in mid-2026, though with production challenges that timing could shift.

The 80 aircraft committed by Thai to the NSG platform is impressive, but it is not the only path Thai is taking. The carrier also chose Intelsat’s 2Ku solution for is A330 retrofit program, with two already flying. NSG CEO Martijn Blanken suggests that is somewhat by design, noting “it’s not necessarily economically attractive for any airline to do a retrofit for the entire fleet… [W]e go after those airlines and those parts of their fleets that are attractive to us.”

Adding a new carrier to the mix

Uzbekistan Airways will equip its A321neo fleet with the NSG system, beginning with new deliveries from Airbus in 2026. Those planes will be fitted as part of the HBCplus program. The deal also suggests retrofit of the existing A321neo fleet following the new deliveries.

With three public customers – and more implied – NSG is talking more about its approach to the market and where it sees value. Given the many fiscal and technical challenges being an inflight connectivity provider presents these details help explain how NSG plans to succeed in the market. And it is not only because the company is funded by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, launched with a “free” GEO satellite to get started.

PaxEx Premium subscribers can read more from exclusive conversations with CEO Martijn Blanken and VP Sales Neale Faulkner at SatShow and AIX 2025.

There’s more to the story… Dig deeper with a PaxEx.Aero Premium Subscription

Maybe it works, maybe not. But the team has a pretty clear vision of where it wants to be. Plus about 100 planes publicly committed so far, with that number expected to grow.

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About Seth Miller

Seth Miller has over a decade of experience covering the airline industry. With a strong focus on passenger experience, Seth also has deep knowledge of inflight connectivity and loyalty programs. He is widely respected as an unbiased commentator on the aviation industry.

He is frequently consulted on innovations in passenger experience by airlines and technology providers.

You can connect with Seth via email, on Bluesky, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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