Air New Zealand selects Starlink for free Wi-Fi onboard
Passengers travelling on an Air New Zealand enjoying IFE and connectivity
Air New Zealand announced today that it will work with Starlink to introduce free internet onboard its domestic aircraft. The first installation is expected on an ATR in late 2024, the press release said.
Starlink offers reliable high-speed, low-latency inflight Internet that is set to elevate the passenger experience. With latency as low as 30 milliseconds, all passengers will be able to use Internet during the flight. Streaming video content, working while onboard and instantly messaging friends and family with multiple devices connected, will be possible for Air New Zealand passengers travelling on domestic routes.
Air New Zealand Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar said the partnership demonstrates the airline's commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences at every point of their journey.
"We're always looking at how new and innovative technology can deliver improved customer experiences and with the world's largest satellite constellation, exploring in-motion connectivity on our aircraft with Starlink was a no brainer,” said Ravishankar.
"Whether travelling for work or leisure, we know maintaining seamless Internet connectivity is something that will transform the travel experience for customers. Our free and accessible Wi-Fi onboard international flights has proved incredibly popular among customers, so we can't wait to bring connectivity to domestic flights.”
He continued, "Don't worry though, if you're the type of traveller 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."
Jason Fritch, Vice President of Starlink at SpaceX, said, "We're proud to work with Air New Zealand to bring Starlink's high-speed internet to their aircraft and extend this game-changing inflight connectivity experience to more passengers around the world."
After a successful trial period, Air New Zealand will look at rolling out Starlink Internet on its other domestic aircraft in 2025.
