American Airlines is set to revolutionize the regional air travel experience by expanding high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity to nearly 500 of its dual-class regional aircraft, beginning in 2024. This ambitious move will bolster the airline’s position as an industry leader in inflight connectivity, building on its current provision of high-speed Wi-Fi across 900 mainline aircraft – the highest number in the industry.
Earlier this year, American Airlines achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first airline to offer streaming capabilities on 100% of its mainline fleet. This allowed customers to enjoy video content from their favorite streaming platforms during their flights. The expansion of this service to its regional fleet is a natural progression, made possible through an expanded relationship with Intelsat, the global satellite service provider.
The expansion plan is a part of American’s broader strategy to provide a seamless and connected inflight experience. The introduction of high-speed Wi-Fi to its regional aircraft, operated on behalf of the airline, is set to begin next year. This initiative is expected to increase the total number of satellite-connected aircraft in the American Airlines fleet to over 1,400, once the updates to the regional aircraft are complete.
One of the key technological advancements enabling this expansion is Intelsat’s Electronically Steered Array (ESA) antennae. This cutting-edge technology is unique in its multi-orbit capability, interoperating with both Intelsat’s family of geostationary satellites and a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. This innovation will provide low latency and high-speed internet connections to passengers, enhancing their inflight experience.
The installation of this new technology in the regional fleet will allow these aircraft to offer Wi-Fi speeds comparable to those available on American’s mainline aircraft. This upgrade reaffirms American Airlines’ commitment to providing a consistent and connected experience for all its passengers. With the new system, passengers will be able to stream content, browse the internet, check emails, and even connect to VPNs while inflight, significantly improving their travel experience.
As inflight connectivity technology continues to advance rapidly across the airline industry, American Airlines’ move to expand high-speed Wi-Fi to its regional fleet marks a significant step forward in enhancing customer experience and maintaining its competitive edge in the market.
