British Airways‘ first aircraft equipped with Starlink connectivity has taken to the skies. It marks the first time a UK airline has equipped the antenna and technology in its fleet.
The first aircraft to be fitted was a Boeing 787-8, which is the first aircraft to be fitted. Within the next two years, most of the British Airways fleet of more than 300 aircraft will have this new technology available for all customers, in every cabin, free of charge.
The rollout of Starlink will be rolled out across all of British Airways’ long-haul and short-haul fleet, excluding BA Cityflyer.
The Starlink constellation is made up of over 10,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit (compared to the previous networks the airline used, which used Geostationary Earth Orbit satellites), allowing for speeds of up to 500 Mbps when in the air.
As well as improving the experience for customers on board, who can enjoy home-like connectivity even at 38,000 feet, the same high-speed service will enable the airline’s Cabin Crew and Flight Crew to communicate seamlessly in real time with colleagues on the ground.
In Quotes
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, described the launch as “a landmark moment”:
“We’re excited to be the first UK airline to bring this level of connectivity to our customers. We know that staying connected matters to people, whether they’re travelling for work or heading off on holiday, and Starlink will give our customers fast, reliable Wi-Fi that transforms the onboard experience. This milestone is part of a wider investment in elevating every aspect of our customer journey as we continue to modernise our airline.”
Per Economy Class and Beyond coverage, posts about Starlink are not open for comment, with no commentary provided.
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