High-speed connectivity is currently available on 900 aircraft across the American Airlines fleet. Beginning in 2024, the carrier intends to add availability of inflight wi-fi to nearly 500 dual-class regional aircraft.
American Airlines claims to have high-speed connectivity available on more aircraft than any other domestic US carrier, with 900 of its mainline airplanes fitted with IFC systems. Over the next two years, the airline intends to introduce high-speed wi-fi on the dual-class regional aircraft operated on its behalf, which will bring the total number of satellite-connected aircraft to more than 1,400 once the planned updates are complete. American is working to extend its relationship with Intelsat in order to install new high-speed wi-fi capability on nearly 500 regional aircraft, beginning next year.
The aircraft will be fitted with Intelsat’s Electronically Steered Array (ESA) multi-orbit antennae, accessing Intelsat’s family of geo-stationary satellites as well as a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, providing low latency high-speed internet connection in the cabins. This technology should enable these regional aircraft to have the same wi-fi speeds that are currently available on American’s mainline aircraft.
