Saudia selects Inmarsat’s GX Aviation

Saudia will outfit its upcoming fleet of 20 Airbus A321neo and 15 Airbus A321XLR aircraft with Inmarsat’s GX Aviation high-speed in-flight broadband solution.

Saudia will be GX Aviation’s launch customer in Saudi Arabia, and the first airline in the region to select Inmarsat’s new OneFi customer experience platform and the first in the world to select GX Aviation’s next-generation terminal, developed with GDC Advanced Technology. The terminal provides enhanced customer flexibility and is future proofed to meet the demands of planned and new constellations.

The airline’s first installation of GX Aviation is expected in late 2022.

Inmarsat’s OneFi platform will allow Saudia to monetise its in-flight connectivity by bringing a host of onboard services together within a single portal interface. The solution, which launched two months ago in September 2021, allows passengers to order food, beverages and duty-free items, enjoy e-books, newspapers and magazines, receive the latest information for their flight and destination, and sign into Saudia’s AlFursan frequent flyer programme, all in real-time from the comfort of their seat.

GDC Advanced Technology will produce and install GX Aviation’s next-generation terminal, with a robust flat panel antenna developed by Thinkom.

Tracy Trent, President of GDC Advanced Technology, said: “More than being just an enabler for the digital transformation of the airline experience, providing a touchless onboard experience will be the key to increasing passenger confidence as regional and global air travel recovers from the global Covid-19 pandemic. GX Aviation is well-positioned to exploit our new lightweight, low drag, ultra-high-performance terminal, and will optimise its capabilities even further, providing Saudia with the perfect blueprint for world-class in-flight broadband that meets passenger expectations for generations to come.”