Satellite Internet and Free Wi-Fi to Dominate Aircraft Interiors Expo
The Aircraft Interiors Expo, the world’s leading event for the aviation industry, is set to take place in Hamburg, Germany, from April 4 to 6, 2023. The event will showcase the latest innovations and trends in cabin design, passenger comfort, entertainment, connectivity, and safety.
One of the hot topics at this year’s expo will be the emergence of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service for aircraft, which promises to deliver faster, cheaper, and more reliable Wi-Fi to passengers and crew. Several companies, such as SpaceX, OneWeb, Telesat, and Amazon, are launching thousands of small satellites into orbit, creating constellations that can cover the entire globe with high-speed broadband.
LEO satellite internet service is expected to revolutionize the in-flight Wi-Fi market, which has been dominated by geostationary (GEO) satellite providers such as Viasat and Inmarsat. GEO satellites are located at a fixed position above the equator, about 36,000 kilometers from Earth. LEO satellites, on the other hand, are much closer to Earth, at an altitude of about 500 to 2,000 kilometers. This means that LEO satellites can offer lower latency, higher bandwidth, and more coverage than GEO satellites.
Several airlines have already expressed interest in LEO satellite internet service for their fleets. For example, Air France-KLM has signed a memorandum of understanding with OneWeb to explore the possibility of using its LEO constellation for in-flight connectivity. Similarly, Delta Air Lines has partnered with SpaceX to test its Starlink service on some of its aircraft.
Another topic that will likely generate a lot of buzz at the expo is Delta Air Lines’ plan to offer free Wi-Fi to all its passengers by 2024. The US carrier announced its ambitious goal in May 2022, saying that it wants to be the first airline in the world to provide free high-quality Wi-Fi on all its flights.
Delta Air Lines’ plan to offer free Wi-Fi could have a significant impact on the in-flight Wi-Fi market, as it could force other airlines to follow suit or risk losing customers. However, offering free Wi-Fi also poses many challenges for airlines, such as ensuring sufficient bandwidth and capacity, managing costs and revenues, and complying with regulatory and security requirements.
The Aircraft Interiors Expo will provide an opportunity for airlines, suppliers, regulators, and experts to discuss these issues and explore the opportunities and challenges of satellite internet and free Wi-Fi for the aviation industry. The event will also feature other topics such as biometric boarding, smart seats, wireless charging, virtual reality, and sustainability.