Starlink, made by SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, is revolutionizing the aviation industry with it’s in-flight connectivity system, with airline taking advantage.
It has certainly grabbed the attention of airlines, who are slowly starting to pick up the pace in it’s adoption & implementation.
Let’s take a look into three case studies of airlines who are taking advantage of this unique system.
Qatar Airways & SpaceX Starlink…
Around five months ago, Qatar Airways announced a partnership with SpaceX for the Starlink revolutionary internet system.
Qatar Airways’ uptake of the Starlink system represents a significant step toward redefining the in-flight experience for passengers. Starlink’s service will not only be an enhancement but a game-changer, taking Qatar Airways’ onboard experience to a new level.
Starlink promises ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 350 Megabits per second.
This blazing speed opens doors to a multitude of internet-based services, such as streaming your favorite entertainment, sports videos, gaming, enriched web browsing, and much more.
This means streaming your favorite movie or engaging in an online gaming session without interruptions, all while cruising at 30,000 feet.
For the airline & the usage of Starlink from SpaceX, this will add to what is already a well-offered premium product.
Hawaiian Airlines Recently Debuted This…
Hawaiian Airlines is another key case study in the use of Starlink by SpaceX.
Back in February, they rolled out the in flight connectivity system on their Airbus A321neo aircraft.
It is being rolled out on select aircraft over the next few months.
At the time, Chris Liebertz, senior director of engineering at Hawaiian Airlines had this to say on the product:
“In marrying this best-in-class technology with our authentic Hawaiian hospitality, we are offering our guests a travel experience unlike any other airline flying to and from the Hawaiian Islands”.
Will Seidel, the Director of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX explained how it works for Hawaiian Airlines:
“Starlink’s self-designed aviation terminal installed on Hawaiian’s aircraft allows each plane to receive strong, fast internet signals from the satellites orbiting above Earth”.
“The terminal will seamlessly switch connections from satellite to satellite as planes cross the Pacific, providing an uninterrupted internet experience for passengers.”
airBaltic Enters The Foray…
And even as soon as today, airBaltic has entered into the foray of Starlink usage with SpaceX technologies.
They took YL-ABU, one of their Airbus A220-300s out of service temporarily to test the system this week.
For airBaltic, they are currently working with SpaceX to acquire the supplemental type certification approval to use this technology on commercial flights.
Martin Gauss, the CEO & President of airBaltic had this to say on the momentous day:
“We are excited to lead the way in Europe by offering high-speed, unlimited, and complimentary inflight connectivity onboard our flights.”
“This first test brings good insights and moves us closer to enhancing our service for passengers travelling within the airBaltic network in Europe and beyond.”
“We are grateful to our partners at SpaceX’s Starlink for their unwavering support throughout this transformative journey.”
“Their shared ambition and dedication perfectly complement airBaltic’s values.”
“As we operate one of the most modern aircraft types on the market, it was the next logical step for airBaltic to introduce the cutting-edge Starlink inflight internet solution onboard this fleet,”
Overall…
As well as Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic & Qatar Airways, other clients such as JSX & ZIPAIR have also entered into this market too.
Furthermore, it remains clear that Starlink by SpaceX is slowly but surely revolutionizing this space.
If the systems work, then the rest will follow in terms of securing additional business by the airlines.
Because after all, in-flight connectivity is something that passengers always crave to have when they are 35,000 feet in the air.
On top of this, it remains clear that the other providers of in-flight connectivity will begin to sweat.
Boasting high internet speeds, Starlink from SpaceX is providing competition that is on another level.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on how much further this product will envelop itself within the aviation & airline industry.
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