Airlines
Alaska Airlines plans streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi upgrades to E175 regional jets
Alaska Airlines elevates its regional flying experience with an all-jet fleet, and become the first major airline to announce plans to offer streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi on a regional jet aircraft. It have selected Intelsat’s newest satellite Wi-Fi technology to make that happen.
How Does In-Flight Wi-Fi Really Work?(Opens in a new browser tab)
Intelsat’s new system closely aligns with Alaska’s needs for regional fleet. The new, faster service will utilize an electronically steered array (ESA) which is a small, lighter weight antenna with no moving parts – making it easier to maintain in the unique regional environment. In an industry first, Intelsat’s new system will communicate with both traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites and new low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. With an additional $25 million investment, this upgrade represents a major step forward in the travel experience for guests, enabling higher speeds and more coverage in the air, particularly across areas in the state of Alaska.
The new system will debut on Horizon Air, and sister airline, in early 2024 and roll out across regional jet fleet, including on partner SkyWest, over a two-year period. With nearly all mainline fleet set to feature satellite Wi-Fi by this April – also installed by Intelsat, on track to provide consistent streaming-fast Wi-Fi across entire fleet by 2026.
With satellite Wi-Fi, you can stream, browse and chat on board using the internet much like you’re used to when you’re on the ground. You can enjoy content on your personal devices from your favorite services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and TikTok. Or jump online if you need connectivity to get some work done. Another bonus: On aircraft enabled with satellite Wi-Fi, you can connect from the moment you board instead of waiting for the connection to kick in after the boarding door closes – it’s seamless connectivity from gate to gate.
