With an average trip under two hours it would be easy to argue that flyadeal’s passengers don’t really need internet on board. But CEO Steven Greenway likes to be creative, so maybe inflight WiFi could happen?
Satellite
Azul adds long-haul Wi-Fi with expanded Viasat partnership
Azul is stretching its in-flight Wi-Fi program to long-haul operations. The carrier expanded its partnership with Viasat to add service on its A330neo planes from 2025.
American’s first satellite Wi-Fi CR7 is back in service
The first plane plane purposefully fitted for multi-orbit inflight internet service is back in service. The CRJ-700, operated by SkyWest for American Eagle, has completed its installation program and is carrying passengers once again.
ViaSat-3 enters service, delivering inflight internet on Hawaii flights
The first ViaSat-3 satellite is now in service, providing increased capacity for the company’s airline customers, most notably including roughly 2400 monthly trips between Hawaii and the mainland.
Multi-orbit connectivity now flying on regional jets
The first commercial aircraft to be fitted with the Intelsat multi-orbit solution, featuring the Gilat/Stellar Blu Sidewinder terminal has left the installation facility and appears to be headed towards entry into passenger service.
Viasat rejigs financial reporting
Viasat’s new reporting structure breaks out revenue by segment much more clearly than before, exposing a couple interesting trends.
Viasat confirms connectivity plans for LOT Polish Dreamliners
Viasat will provide inflight Wi-Fi service to LOT Polish Airlines’ fleet of Dreamliners from 2026 as part of a planned retrofit for the 787s.
Stellar Blu, Fargo Jet Center team for special missions connectivity
Stellar Blu is expanding into special missions, thanks to a strategic partnership with Fargo Jet Center (FJC) to develop and certify solutions targeting the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) market.
WestJet taps Starlink for fast, free inflight internet
WestJet will make inflight internet free to all passengers, thanks to a new partnership with TELUS and Starlink.
ESAs, China, and the future of inflight connectivity
Depending on who you ask – and I asked several people at at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 last month – ESAs are the best way forward for inflight connectivity, or a compromise that come up short for airlines.