Delta Air Lines is vowing to equip nearly all its domestic mainline fleet with “enhanced” inflight connectivity by the end of 2022, after its first Viasat-enabled aircraft entered regular service on 1 May.
The US major in January 2021 selected Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band satellite-supported inflight connectivity system for more than 300 mainline narrowbody aircraft, in a deal covering both new deliveryand existing aircraft, including Airbus A321ceos, Boeing 737-900ERs and select Boeing 757-200s – aircraft that historically operate on routes with high customer volume.
The first aircraft to be fitted with the system and enter service for Delta, a new A321ceo, is now being performance-tested and closely monitored by the carrier. Additional aircraft covered in the initial Viasat IFC order tranche are scheduled to enter service in June. Delta says it plans to outfit these fleets with the new service by the end of 2021.
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Intelsat completes acquisition of Gogo inflight broadband
Intelsat has completed its acquisition of the commercial aviation business of Gogo. It creates, says the company, “the world’s leading provider of inflight broadband connectivity to the commercial aviation industry”.
The $400m cash deal – which was first reported back in September 2020 – brings together the satellite operator with the provider of inflight broadband and entertainment services.
Intelsat will pair its global satellite and ground network with Gogo’s installed base of 3,000 commercial aircraft. Describing Gogo’s 2Ku antenna as best-in-class, it currently operates with 21 commercial airlines, including 9 of the top 20 global carriers.
From gate to cloud
Hughes
Hughes Network Systems has an interesting position in the discussion. Under an agreement
forged late last yearwith LEO satellite operator OneWeb, Hughes is to develop and manufacture the core module for OneWeb user terminals – for both electronically and mechanically steered antennas – including for the aero market and other verticals.
Company vice president Reza Rasoulian told Runway Girl Network that while ESA technology “continues to get better and better” and will likely be beneficial to the aero ecosystem in time, Hughes expects them to be fielded “over the next three to five years”.
We are eager to add ESAs to our toolkit to help airlines achieve their connectivity needs. We don’t really see any solution in the near-term. There are still some challenges that folks are trying to solve.
Intelsat is buying two more OneSat satellites from Airbus Space Systems, operating in multiple frequency bands. They are due to be delivered in 2023. The g