Hawaiian Airlines has announced an agreement with Starlink to provide complimentary high-speed, low-latency broadband internet access on board flights between the islands and continental US, Asia and Oceania.
The carrier says it will equip its Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft as well as its incoming fleet of Boeing 787-9s with Starlink’s satellite internet connectivity service.
“When we launch with Starlink, we will have the best connectivity experience available in the air,” said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. “We waited until technology caught up with our high standards for guest experience, but it will be worth the wait. Our guests can look forward to fast, seamless and free Wi-Fi to complement our award-winning onboard Hawaiian hospitality.”
“Hawaiian Airlines is ensuring its passengers will experience high-speed internet the way we expect it in the 21st century, making hassles like downloading movies before takeoff a relic of the past,” said SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales, Jonathan Hofeller. “With Starlink, the in-flight experience is greatly simplified so that once passengers step on board the plane the internet works seamlessly throughout their flight. Soon, passengers will enjoy all the benefits of having the world’s best in-flight internet connectivity from the comfort of their seats.”
Starlink’s low-Earth orbit constellation of advanced satellites, the latest of which utilise a revolutionary laser mesh network, offers reliable, high-speed, low-latency connectivity on trans-Pacific flights. Hawaiian says passengers will be able to stream content, play games live with friends on the ground, work and collaborate in real-time and use social media. Connecting to the internet will be seamless when guests walk on board, without registration pages or payment portals.
Hawaiian and Starlink expect to begin installing the product on select aircraft next year.
