Royal Jordanian Airlines and Viasat Inc. VSAT have joined forces to prioritize high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi service to augment passenger experience. With a commitment to modernizing its fleet, Royal Jordanian Airlines is set to equip more than 40 aircraft with Viasat's in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution, spanning various models, including the Embraer E2, Airbus A320, Airbus 321 and Boeing 787-9. Moreover, plans include retrofitting existing Boeing 787-8 widebody aircraft with this cutting-edge Wi-Fi technology.

The partnership intends to offer passengers an enhanced travel experience, featuring swift Internet connectivity, streaming entertainment options, real-time communication tools and productivity features to keep passengers and crew connected throughout their journey. This upgraded in-flight Wi-Fi will be accessible on routes across the Middle East and beyond, catering to short-haul, medium-haul and long-haul flights.

The adoption of Viasat's IFC solution is gaining momentum worldwide, driven by its capacity to meet demand effectively. By leveraging Viasat's high-speed Ka-band satellite network, including the anticipated ViaSat-3 constellation, Royal Jordanian Airlines aims to ensure a consistently high-quality, high-speed and content-rich in-flight Wi-Fi experience across its extensive flight routes spanning the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.

With Viasat's recent acquisition of Inmarsat, it is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for quality in-flight Wi-Fi. According to Viasat's 2023 Passenger Experience Survey, 83% of passengers are likely to rebook with an airline that offers high-quality in-flight Wi-Fi, emphasizing the pivotal role connectivity plays in shaping passengers' perceptions of airlines. As the aviation industry continues to prioritize passenger satisfaction, Viasat stands to gain substantially from its pivotal role in elevating the in-flight experience.

Viasat’s impressive bandwidth productivity sets it apart from conventional and lower-yield satellite providers that run on incumbent business models. It has a competitive advantage in bandwidth economics, global coverage, flexibility and bandwidth allocation, which makes it believe that mobile broadband will act as a profit churner with a significant improvement in IFC revenues.

Viasat’s Satellite Services business is progressing well, with key metrics, including steady growth of average revenue per user (ARPU) and revenues showing impressive growth. ARPU is growing on the back of a solid retail distribution network, accounting for a rising proportion of high-value and high bandwidth subscriber base. Further, the growing adoption of in-flight Wi-Fi services in commercial aircraft like Lufthansa Group is benefiting the business.

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