Latvian airline airBaltic has conducted an initial test of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system onboard one of its Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The ground test took place at the airline’s home base in Riga, Latvia, where the inflight connectivity system was evaluated with a full cabin of airBaltic and SpaceX employees.
“We are excited to lead the way in Europe by offering high-speed, unlimited, and complimentary inflight connectivity onboard our flights,” said Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic. “This first test brings good insights and moves us closer to enhancing our service for passengers travelling within the airBaltic network in Europe and beyond.”
airBaltic is working to obtain the required supplemental type certification (STC) approval and aims to begin installing the Starlink system on its A220-300 fleet by the end of 2023. The airline plans to equip its entire A220-300 fleet with Starlink, providing seamless high-speed internet access to all passengers from boarding to landing without login requirements.
“As Starlink continues to activate high-speed, low-latency internet on aircraft around the world, we are excited to bring this next-generation experience to Europe with airBaltic’s A220 fleet,” said Jason Fritch, VP of Starlink Enterprise Sales at SpaceX.
Developed by SpaceX, Starlink operates a network of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide broadband internet access globally. The system can deliver up to 500 Mbps to aircraft with latency as low as 20ms, enabling activities like online gaming and video conferencing during flights.
airBaltic, a joint-stock company established in 1995, is one of the leading airlines in the Baltic region. It operates a fleet of 47 Airbus A220-300 aircraft and flies to over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region.
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