Condor chooses Inmarsat’s GX Aviation in-flight connectivity
Condor has chosen Inmarsat’s high-speed GX Aviation in-flight broadband for its upcoming fleet of Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
The German leisure carrier is renewing its long-haul fleet with 18 Airbus A330-900neos and passengers will be able to enjoy the award-winning service from later this year.
The aircraft will be delivered with GX Aviation as a linefit installation and will fly Condor’s international routes to the Americas, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. The first three A330-900neos are scheduled to enter service by the end of this year.
Inmarsat says GX Aviation offers reliable, consistent and high-speed connectivity that meets the rising passenger expectations. The solution will also unlock new ancillary revenue streams for the airline as passengers are able to purchase a connectivity package directly from their personal devices.
There is soaring demand for in-flight connectivity as passengers return to the skies after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Inmarsat’s 2022 Passenger Experience Survey, which surveyed 11,000 passengers worldwide, 77% said in-flight Wi-Fi is important to them when they travel. Wi-Fi allows them to stay connected with friends and family and supports a touch-free environment onboard the aircraft. 82% said quality Wi-Fi would lead them to rebook with that airline.
Niels Steenstrup, President of Inmarsat Aviation commented: “As we have witnessed over the past few months, demand for air travel has continued to increase significantly and with that, passenger expectations around a digital onboard experience have also evolved rapidly. Fast, reliable in-flight broadband is now integral to ensuring that airlines stay ahead of the curve in today’s climate and Inmarsat’s new partnership with Condor is testament to the important role that connectivity solutions play in the airline industry’s recovery and growth strategies. Inmarsat looks forward to rolling out GX Aviation on Condor’s Airbus A330-900neo aircraft as part of the airline’s efforts to renew its fleet and enhance its onboard experience.”
Ralf Teckentrup, CEO of Condor, said: “As the German launch customer for the Airbus A330neo, Condor is focused on providing a superior passenger experience and cementing our status as a European frontrunner on long-haul flights. A key part of this strategy is the introduction of brand-new Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins, which offer the highest levels of comfort and feature world-class technology such as Inmarsat’s GX Aviation to ensure passenger expectations for fast, consistent and reliable inflight broadband are met.
“The Airbus A330neos will become our first connected aircraft and we look forward to offering GX Aviation as standard across our long-haul flights by mid-2024, when our long-haul fleet renewal programme is expected to be completed, marking an important milestone in Condor’s history.”
GX Aviation is powered by Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, which currently consists of five Ka-band satellites and will be further enhanced with the addition of seven more satellites as part of Inmarsat’s fully-funded technology roadmap.