Passengers aboard ZK OXE, an Air New Zealand A320 aircraft, can now access high-speed, low-latency internet starting today. Additionally, an ATR-72 turboprop will join the trial later this month, marking a world-first achievement.
During the trial period, Wi-Fi will be provided free of charge, allowing passengers to browse, engage in social media, stream content, or play games while in-flight.
Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, utilizes low Earth orbit satellites to offer global coverage.
“Being the first airline to trial Wi-Fi on a turboprop aircraft is a significant milestone for us,” stated Air New Zealand’s chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar. “Our objective is to explore the capabilities of this technology and its potential to enhance the overall customer experience.”
Air New Zealand is currently in the testing phase of Starlink’s onboard connectivity, aiming to evaluate its performance under real-world conditions and gather valuable customer feedback.
“Customer feedback will play a crucial role in shaping our decisions as we evaluate connectivity options for our domestic fleet,” Ravishankar added.
