The Starlink 3 train rides across the early morning sky, accompanied by a handful of other satellites. File photo. Photo: Unsplash / Forest Katsch
Air New Zealand is working with Elon Musk's satellite company, Starlink, to bring free internet to its domestic services.
Starlink will be installed on an ATR-72 turbo-prop plane and a domestic A320/321 jet in late 2024, and then if successfully tested rolled out through the domestic fleet, although the smaller Bombardier Q300 will not be included.
Air NZ chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar said Starlink's extensive low earth orbit satellite network over New Zealand now offered the opportunity for wifi services when flying at 10,000 metres with the same quality and speed as at ground level.
"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.
"If you ever walk up and down the aisle on one of our domestic flights you'll see most of our passengers on a device, either doing work or consuming content they've downloaded ahead of the flight, so we think there is just as much demand to be connected with the internet in the air as there is on the ground."
Ravishankar said planes would need to be modified, and while the cost to the airline was confidential it was likely cheaper than the service on Air New Zealand's international services.
Starlink vice president Jason Fritch said the company was thrilled to be able to share the service to Air New Zealand's customers.
"We're proud to work with Air New Zealand to bring Starlink's high-speed internet to their aircraft and extend this game-changing in-flight connectivity experience to more passengers around the world," Fritch said.
The three main mobile operators - Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees - have all signed up with satellite companies to provide nationwide connections to mobile blackspots and offer services in regions hit by natural disasters.
