Viasat announced that it has been selected as the inflight connectivity provider for Korean Air.
Under the agreement, the Korean flag carrier has selected Viasat’s inflight broadband solution for its fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Korean Air will receive a total of 30 Airbus A321neos by 2027 as part of a fleet modernization plan, all of which will be delivered linefit with the global satellite company’s connectivity solution. These will be operated on short and mid-haul flights between the airline’s main hub in Seoul and destinations across the Asia region.
A recent Passenger Experience Survey conducted by Inmarsat found that 89 percent of Korean respondents would be more likely to rebook with an airline if quality inflight Wi-Fi was available – compared to 82 percent globally, showing the demand for reliable, consistent, and high-speed inflight connectivity.
Having such a connection abroad will enable Korean Air passengers to stay connected in the air – be they browsing the internet, enjoying social media, streaming video and audio, shopping online, catching up with work and more.
In Quotes
Kenneth Chang, Korean Air’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer said:
“Today marks an important milestone for Korean Air, as we embark on our first inflight connectivity partnership. Our selection process started in 2018 and we’ve been focused on selecting the right solution that meets our business needs and can help us realize the untapped potential of our onboard experience,”
“It was clear that Viasat’s technology was unparalleled and they understood our vision. The new connectivity system will be a fundamental part of our digital strategy and customer experience going forward. Coupled with the advanced features of our fuel-efficient, next-generation A321neo aircraft, we look forward to taking our passenger experience to the next level.”
Jimmy Dodd, SVP & President, Global Enterprise & Mobility at Viasat added
“We are proud to add Korean Air, a leading airline, as a valued inflight connectivity customer in this major market,”
“Key to our ability to service Korean Air’s new A321neo fleet is our robust satellite network, designed to deliver fast and reliable Wi-Fi for an exceptional passenger experience.”
Delivering with partners
The selection was secured in partnership with hardware provider Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) to develop the solution required by Korean Air. This included combining inflight connectivity (IFC) airtime and Safran’s Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) hardware.
It seems that even with the issues Viasat is having with some of its recent satellite launches, it is still winning business, with airlines signing up for connectivity solutions that are both diverse but can meet its needs.
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