Gogo in talks with Middle East airlines for 2Ku satellite install

Inflight connectivity provider Gogo is in talks with several Middle Eastern airlines—including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways—to provide its 2Ku satellite internet system, the company said at the Dubai Air Show. Gogo’s 2Ku system is not currently installed on any airlines in the region, but the system’s satellite coverage extends to the region, Gogo SVP-international Niels Steenstrup said. Both the UK’s British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate Gogo 2Ku-equipped aircraft into the region, demonstrating its reach, he added. Operators in the region were early adopters of inflight connectivity and are at the point where systems need to be upgraded or replaced, Steenstrup said. This, he believes, will make the Gogo 2Ku product competitive in the Middle East. <br/>