Air New Zealand will offer free in-flight internet access on domestic flights from 2025 thanks to its SpaceX Starlink satellite network.
Air New Zealand will conduct a four- to six-month trial of Starlink services from the end of 2024 on two aircraft, an ATR 72 turboprop regional aircraft and an Airbus A320. If the trials are successful, Air New Zealand plans to retrofit all remaining domestic aircraft. Starting in late 2025, fleets equipped with Starlink devices will be eligible.
Photo: Air New Zealand, ATR72.Courtesy of Will Waters/Unsplash
Air New Zealand now offers free WiFi on international flights powered by Vista’s GX technology. Due to the popularity of the service, airlines decided to extend the service to domestic travelers using Starlink’s small terminals (antennas).
Air New Zealand Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishanka said: “Free and easily accessible WiFi on board our international flights has proven hugely popular with our customers, and we’re excited to extend connectivity to our domestic flights as well. I can’t wait to become one.”
Starlink’s more agile terminals (antennas) will allow airlines to bring high-speed internet to small planes such as the Embraer 145. However, Air New Zealand was the first airline in the world to install high-speed internet on a turboprop aircraft.
Starlink, a venture of Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft company, provides internet from a constellation of hundreds of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The satellite orbits the Earth at 550 kilometers (342 miles), 65 times closer than traditional geostationary satellites.
Photo: Provided by Anirudh / Unsplash
These low-altitude satellites beam internet connectivity to aircraft with lasers, providing WiFi without the glacial speeds and high latency (latency) of typical satellite internet.
Starlink claims that its internet speeds can reach 350Mbps with latency of around 20 milliseconds, comparable to terrestrial fiber optic connections. For airline passengers, this means a connection fast enough for streaming, web surfing, and instant messaging.
“We are always looking at how new and innovative technology can improve the customer experience.Taking advantage of the world’s largest constellation of satellites, Starlink allows us to It was easy to explore the connections,” said Ravishanka.
Starlink Vice President Jason Fritsch said: “We are proud to be working with Air New Zealand to bring Starlink high-speed internet to our aircraft and extend this breakthrough in-flight connectivity experience to more passengers around the world. “I think so,” he said.
Photo: Premium Economy, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand is the latest airline to introduce Starlink on its aircraft after entering service. Hawaiian Airlines became the first major airline to announce a partnership with Starlink in spring 2022, but the launch of service has been pushed back to early next year.
Latvian airline AirBaltic is the first European airline to implement Starlink, deploying the system across its Airbus A220 fleet. The company is reportedly planning to switch on the service next year.
Tokyo-based ZIPAIR is also working on implementing Starlink hardware, and Qatar Airways has announced a partnership with the company, but has not said when its Starlink-powered internet will go live.
Delta conducted exploratory testing of Starlink’s system in the U.S. in 2022 before selecting Viasat to provide industry-leading free WiFi on domestic flights.
