Qatar Airways now operates 100 aircraft with “Super Wi-Fi,” its branding for the Inmarsat GX Aviation inflight connectivity solution. The most recent addition to the fleet is A7-ALC, an A350-900. Qatar Airways is the leading operator of the GX solution around the globe.
With connection to our loved ones and friends now more important than ever during these challenging times, we are delighted to work with Inmarsat and its GX Aviation technology to bring high-speed Super Wi-Fi broadband to passengers on board our fleet as part of Qatar Airways’ exceptional five-star service.
– Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker
Qatar Airways committed to inflight connectivity for its fleet relatively early in the technology’s evolution. In the case of A7-ALC, as well as several other aircraft, the GX/Super Wi-Fi activation was a conversion from a prior generation of service running on Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband network. The migration to the newer, higher-bandwidth solution allows for a better end-user experience on board. The conversion took place between 19 August and 3 September 2020.
The carrier also offers a free hour of connectivity in partnership with Qatari telecom provider Ooredoo. Passengers can also buy up to a full flight pass after the trial hour expires.
Inmarsat Aviation President Philip Balaam celebrated the milestone noting, “Qatar Airways is world renowned for offering a superior onboard experience, which is enjoyed by millions of loyal passengers across the world. We are pleased that our GX Aviation inflight broadband has become such an important component of that experience on the airline’s extensive fleet.”
The GX Aviation service officially launched on the Qatar Airways fleet in May 2018. The carrier contracted for more than 130 aircraft to eventually be fitted with the solution though it is unclear if that commitment still holds given shifting fleet plans. A half dozen A350s remain on the SBB service awaiting conversion.
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