Air New Zealand has announced a groundbreaking partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to introduce high-speed, low-latency internet on its domestic flights.
This initiative, set to redefine domestic air travel in Aotearoa, will see the first installation of Starlink internet on a domestic jet and an ATR, marking a world-first for the latter, in late 2024.
The collaboration aims to provide Air New Zealand passengers with an unparalleled in-flight internet experience, comparable to home connectivity. With latency as low as 30ms, passengers will be able to stream video content, work, and message friends and family seamlessly, even with multiple devices connected.
Air New Zealand’s Chief Digital Officer, Nikhil Ravishankar, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating, “We’re always looking at how new and innovative technology can deliver improved customer experiences. With Starlink’s vast satellite constellation, providing in-motion connectivity on our aircraft was an obvious choice. This will transform the travel experience for our customers, whether they’re traveling for work or leisure.”
“We’re proud to work with Air New Zealand to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet to their aircraft and extend this game-changing in-flight connectivity experience to more passengers around the world,” said Jason Fritch, Vice President of Starlink at SpaceX.
Following a successful trial period, Air New Zealand plans to expand Starlink internet across its domestic fleet in 2025. The airline’s commitment to enhancing customer experiences is evident in this move, which follows the popularity of its free WiFi on international flights.
For passengers preferring offline time, Ravishankar assures, “If you’re the type of traveler who loves some downtime while in the air, you’re under no obligation to connect and can still use the time to switch off from the world below!”
Another day, and another airline signing on with Starlink. There is no alternative to match Starlink’s reach right now and many companies are realizing that.
