Monitoring Desk
DUBAI: Emirates on Wednesday announced plans to provide high-speed inflight broadband service to its passengers by next year.
In a statement, the Dubai-based airline said new high-speed, inflight broadband powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation would be available on 50 new Airbus A350 aircraft — scheduled to enter service next year.
The advanced high-speed capabilities of the broadband will enable Emirates passengers to stay connected with family and friends, browse the internet, and enjoy social media during the flights.
According to the statement, the Airbus A350s will be the Emirates’ first aircraft to benefit from Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network. The network powers the world’s only and first globally available broadband network, ensuring passengers can enjoy uninterrupted global connectivity, no matter their destination, including the North Pole.
Emirates orders for 50 A350-900 XWB aircraft
The airline had placed an order for 50 of the A350-900 XWB aircraft worth $16 billion at list prices at the Dubai Airshow in 2019. Initially, the aircraft delivery was planned to start in May 2023 and run until 2028; however, it has been rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Delivering a world-class onboard experience has always been paramount to Emirates, and we understand the importance of being connected during flights. Over the years, we have worked in collaboration with Inmarsat and our supplier partners to ensure all our aircraft offer Wi-Fi connectivity,” Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ chief operating officer, said.
Emirates is investing over $2 billion to enhance its inflight customer experience, including a massive programme to retrofit over 120 aircraft with the latest interiors, plus an array of other service improvements across all cabins starting in 2022.
The plan for high-speed inflight broadband onboard A350s is the latest addition to Emirates’ multi-billion-dollar investment into its onboard product and passenger experience.
“Now we’re rolling out a series of intensive programmes to take Emirates’ signature inflight experiences to the next level,” Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates airline, said in August.
