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Riyadh Air Taps Viasat for Fast, Free Inflight Wi-Fi

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Viasat and Riyadh Air logos

Wi-Fi will be free* when Riyadh Air takes flight, powered by Viasat‘s global satellite constellation. Riyadh Air loyalty members will enjoy seamless, free onboard streaming, social scrolling, web browsing, and gaming onboard, available from gate to gate (where permitted).

[O]ur guests will enjoy free, personalized, and seamless Wi-Fi that will fully integrate with the full Riyadh Air experience. This partnership is a key enabler of our digitally native onboard strategy: setting a new standard for premium travel.

– Anton Vidgen, VP Guest Experience at Riyadh Air

Passengers will have access to fast, free internet on board from their personal devices. The companies promise streaming-level performance, allowing travelers to access their own subscription content on board.

The in-seat entertainment – Panasonic Avionics‘ Astrova platform – will include live television content delivered on the Viasat connection. The company suggests “a variety of news and sports channels” will be included.

The companies also promise a fully integrated solution to “power Riyadh Air’s world class apps, seatback screens, and digital channels, all designed to transform the travel industry with hyper-personalization.”

The personalization factor has been a focus for Riyadh Air since the carrier’s inception. The company intends to implement it in various channels, all built on a connected experience. As VP Guest Experience Anton Vidgen explains, “All the things that we’re used to on the ground today, that is absolutely what’s inspiring us for how we’re going to do it on board as well.”

That experience starts by bridging the gap between a passenger’s living room at home and the aircraft cabin. “While you’re watching some great content on board here [in-seat screen], you can go and screw around on your phone and have more content there play games, all different things that we’re used to doing at home,” Vidgen explains. “So really, that living room experience at home on our planes.”

Just behaving like at home is a personal approach, but the carrier also wants to boost the experience through its digital presence, built on a mobile-first strategy.

“We are going to have a full mobile, informed experience,” Vidgen adds. “You’ll be able to browse content, add content [to a play list], and then when you’re on flight, all that content is going to be on there as well.” He also suggested that travelers will be able to “go from flight to flight, it will automatically know all the content that you’re watching before, so you can resume watching.”

That sort of content personalization requires a reliable, robust network connection to support the services.

Vidgen also shares that the company is keen to move beyond traditional entertainment content to deliver this experience. “It is not just about movies and TV shows. You’ll be seeing lots of other apps that we will enable through that personal device, all coming through the Riyadh Air app.”

Viasat confirms that the installation will include the company’s GM-40 terminal, which is optimized for its ViaSat-3 constellation and other, compatible satellites. Viasat will rely on capacity from various Viasat-owned and partner satellites in the region and across the Riyadh Air route network to ensure the promised performance.

*The deal covers all new delivery 787s, with the system installed at the factory. The carrier’s initial proving flights are operating with leased aircraft. If those stick around for real passenger service they likely will not have the IFC platform available.

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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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