‘High-speed’ wi-fi coming to Air New Zealand domestic flights

Free in-flight wi-fi is coming to Air New Zealand domestic flights, with ATR announcing they will be partnering with the airline to bring in Starlink high-speed internet connectivity. The announcement comes after successful test flights carried out on ATR’s 72-600 test aircraft in the past few months proved successful. Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low-Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. The move means that in-flight wi-fi on Air New Zealand flights will be of a quality similar to that travellers experience when at home. Air New Zealand’s Chief Digital Officer Nikhil Ravishankar said exploring in-motion connectivity with Starlink on Air New Zealand flights was a no brainer. “Whether travelling for work or leisure, we know maintaining seamless internet connectivity is something that will transform the travel experience for customers,” he said. The introduction of the system will also allow pilots to connect to aviation weather services that will help enhance flight safety through more informed decision-making. Air New Zealand will be the first airline in the world to have Starlink enabled on its flights, ATR said.<br/>