Air New Zealand has become the latest airline to choose Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service to power (at least some) of its inflight Wi-Fi service.
Part of the SpaceX program, Starlink provides high-speed broadband service via a ‘constellation’ of more than 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. Starlink was originally designed to provide broadband service to remote regions, but it also promises to provide reliable high-speed, low-latency in-flight Wi-Fi.
In a world first, the Kiwi flag carrier intends to install the Starlink system on a domestically configured ATR turboprop plane in late 2024 as part of a four to five-month trial. If that trial goes well, then Starlink could be rolled out across other domestic aircraft, although details currently remain scant.
“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,” commented the airline’s chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar.
“We know maintaining seamless internet connectivity is something that will transform the travel experience for customers,” Ravishankar.
Air New Zealand has installed inflight Wi-Fi on the majority of the long-haul aircraft fleet or Boeing 787s and 777s, as well as some of its most modern Airbus A320neo jets, although that service is provided by Inmarsat using Ka-band satellites.
Like its current inflight Wi-Fi service, Air New Zealand intends to make Starlink available for free.
At least six airlines have now chosen Starlink to power their inflight Wi-Fi service, including Qatar Airways, Hawaiian, JSX, airBaltic and Japan’s Zipair.
Some mystery surrounds the deal with Qatar Airways after Starlink said in a press release that the next-generation service would be rolled out across the entirety of the Doha-based airline’s aircraft fleet. Qatar Airways, meanwhile, suggested that only select aircraft would be fitted out with Starlink.
