February 14 2024  |  Connectivity & Satellites

Hawaiian Airlines deploys Starlink onboard A321neo

By Robynne Trueman

A Starlink decal indicates the aircraft is equipped with internet technology

Hawaiian Airlines has deployed high-speed, low-latency broadband internet from Starlink onboard one of its A321neo aircraft, with a larger rollout to follow. The flight for the A321neo, N228HA, from Honolulu, Hawai’i, to Long Beach, California, was the debut for Starlink on the airline. In the coming months, the service will become complementary for passengers travelling on select A321neo aircraft from Hawaiian Airlines.

“In marrying this best-in-class technology with our authentic Hawaiian hospitality, we are offering our guests a travel experience unlike any other airline flying to and from the Hawaiian Islands,” said Chris Liebertz, Senior Director of Engineering at Hawaiian Airlines.

The inflight internet service from Starlink allows passengers to enjoy streaming, gaming and other online activities they would typically access on the ground but from 30,000 feet.

“Starlink’s self-designed aviation terminal installed on Hawaiian's aircraft allows each plane to receive strong, fast internet signals from the satellites orbiting above Earth,” said Will Seidel, director of Starlink engineering at SpaceX. “The terminal will seamlessly switch connections from satellite to satellite as planes cross the Pacific, providing an uninterrupted internet experience for passengers.”

Starlink and Hawaiian worked alongside the FAA to ensure the aviation terminal met the stringent industry safety standards before publicly launching the service. The airline is working on rolling out the connectivity across its long-haul fleet and plans to install and activate antennas on 18 of its A321neo aircraft by spring 2024, with its A330 aircraft to follow later this year. By the end of 2024, Hawaiian Airlines expects to roll out the service on the 787-9 as well.

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