GURUGRAM- Tata Group-owned India’s only full-service carrier, Air India (AI) some widebody aircraft types including Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-9 are now equipped with inflight Wi-Fi internet connectivity.
The great thing about this is its complimentary service which will be available to all passengers, no matter which class you are flying.
Air India Introduces Wi-Fi
According to some passengers, they started deploying wi-fi since this month (November 2024) and without any big ads or press releases.
It looks like they are doing beta testing and once they have a better track record they will make an announcement.
According to LivefromtheLounge, Air India has partnered with Tata’s firm Nelco and obviously with Panasonic Avionics to offer this in-flight internet connectivity.
The average speed of wi-fi is between three to six Mbps and you can get higher depending on how many are using it at the same time.
So far, some passengers have given positive feedback on X (formerly known as Twitter) on this new free service.
One user wrote, ‘Guys I’m tweeting this while flying. Free wifi in Air India (A350) Good stuff.’
Another wrote, ‘We have wifi enabled as of yesterday on their A350 fleet. Tweeting from over Central Europe. It seems like our flight is one of the first few beta testers, we have VoIP, ie WiFi calling.’
So yes you can work from your flight and even call another person. This is like heaven at 40,000 feet for those who want to utilize their time while flying.
Air India also includes Vistara planes that can offer in-flight wi-fi connectivity. They are as follows:
- 6 Airbus A350-900
- 7 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
- 10 Airbus A321neo
These are available to all passengers traveling on this aircraft on domestic and International flights.
The airline may soon refit this antenna on its existing mixed fleet of both Airbus and Boeing Jets.
How It Works and Who are using it?
Airlines deliver in-flight internet through two primary methods: air-to-ground systems and satellite connectivity. The air-to-ground system operates similarly to cellular networks, with ground-based towers transmitting signals directly to aircraft.
Satellite-based Wi-Fi utilizes specialized antennas mounted on aircraft to receive signals from orbiting satellites. SpaceX’s Starlink service exemplifies this technology’s advancement, delivering reliable high-speed connectivity to participating airlines.
Qatar Airways (QR) recently debuted Starlink Wifi on its Boeing 777 fleet. QR 12 Boeing 777-300 aircraft will equip Starlink Wifi by December 2024. The carrier will complete installations across its entire Boeing 777 fleet in 2025.
The airline advances its Airbus A350 integration timeline to the summer of 2025, implementing the technology one year ahead of the original schedule. This expansion delivers gate-to-gate internet connectivity without charges to passengers.
SpaceX’s Starlink system employs low Earth orbit satellites to power onboard internet services. The technology enables passengers to access streaming platforms, online gaming, business applications, and personal communications throughout their flight.
The single-click connectivity system eliminates traditional login procedures, streamlining passenger access to high-speed internet at cruising altitude. Qatar Airways positions this service enhancement as a key differentiator in its premium travel experience.
Major carriers including Hawaiian, Delta, JetBlue, Philippine Airlines, and Air New Zealand have integrated Wi-Fi services into their fleets. United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and Lufthansa also provide passenger connectivity, with China Eastern Airlines expanding these capabilities across Asian routes.
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