A shift may, in fact, be underway in the IFC market, but Viasat is still riding high. The company’s latest quarterly earnings note a 13% increase in commercial aviation aircraft in service over the past year, now around 3,950 active.
LEO
Starlux shifts from Viasat to Viasat for inflight internet
Starlux will shift its inflight internet offering to Viasat’s Ka-band satellite offering. The companies announced a full fleet program, addressing both new installations and retrofit of existing aircraft.
ATR secures EASA certification for Starlink installation
ATR announced this week it secured certification for the Starlink system on the ATR 72 family, paving the way for airline installations. Air New Zealand will be the launch customer.
Delta confirms multi-link IFC plans with Hughes
Delta Air Lines confirms it is “exploring” the option to enable multi-link network connectivity in a first for the commercial aviation world. Developed in partnership with Hughes Networks, the carrier expects to see the service flying in late 2025.
Astranis successfully launches microGEO satellites, including two for Anuvu
With the launch of two Astranis satellites Anuvu enters its microGEO era. NuView-A and NuView-B are expected to bring 50 Gbps of new capacity into Anuvu’s network and serve help shape the next generation of its inflight connectivity concepts.
Leading with LEO
Add another airline to the collection looking at LEO for an inflight connectivity upgrade.
Next-Gen MEO, LEO Coming from SES, Eutelsat with SpaceRISE Deal
A new generation of satellite connectivity is planned, with the European Union mostly footing the bill. SES, Eutelsat, and their IFC customers also stand to benefit from the program.
Under the Radome: Talking Fast & Free Wi-Fi with Air Canada’s Norman Haughton
Developing new offerings is a delicate balance of concepts and planning, pressed against the reality of passenger behavior. Air Canada took a hybrid approach to build its new IFE/C plan.
Intelsat next-gen connectivity goes live
Several months after the first installations completed, the first aircraft with Intelsat’s new inflight connectivity solution is finally serving passengers.
Gogo closes on Satcom Direct acquisition
The Gogo acquisition of Satcom Direct closed, bringing consolidation to the business aviation connectivity market.