After a few false starts the AirFi LEO inflight connectivity offering has entered service. Company executives confirm multiple airlines have deployed the hardware across more than a dozen planes, with a strong order backlog still to be filled.
We went through quite a steep learning curve to become an internet connection provider.
– Job Heimerikx, AirFi CEO
Moreover, now that the basic functionality can be reliably delivered, the company is keen to expand the feature set. But not too much. It is, after all, still a very lightweight connection that does not aim to deliver a full browsing or streaming experience to passengers.
Staffing changes and process refinements now have the system installed on more than a dozen aircraft across an impressive range of airlines around the globe.
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If you build it…
Beyond the LEO product, AirFi continues to ramp up hardware production to support the business overall. During a recent visit to the production facility in Rotterdam, Heimerikx showed off both the automation of building the motherboards and the human testing that goes into provisioning and delivering reliable systems to its customers.
The company typically orders production runs a few hundred boxes at a time, allowing it to quickly deliver to airline customers once a deal is signed. But it also does not want to keep too much uncommitted inventory in stock. With what appeared to be 700-800 units in productions during the visit, clearly a couple strong deals are expected soon.
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