Hawaiian Airlines has begun installation of SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation inflight connectivity system on its Airbus A321neo fleet. The installations have begun after the company finally received the green light from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Hawaiian Airlines made headlines in April 2022 as the first major airline to announce it was adding Starlink to its fleet. The company was originally planning on installing the high-speed, low-latency satellite internet system on their Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft in early 2023, however that date was pushed back to 2024 due to delays in receiving certification and modification kits for installations on these types of aircraft.
According to Hawaiian Airlines’ Q4 and full year 2023 earnings report released yesterday, the FAA has finally approved the Starlink system for their Airbus A321neo aircraft, and installation is currently underway.
Received FAA approval of the Starlink system on the Airbus A321neo, which is currently being installed on that fleet. Hawaiian will be the first major airline to put this technology on-board, and it is expected to be the fastest, most capable inflight connectivity available worldwide.
Hawaiian Airlines
There was no mention of when the company might receive approval to install Starlink on the A330, or their new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, or when the service will be available to passengers travelling on the A321neo.
When it does launch, passengers travelling on Hawaiian Airlines between the islands and the continental U.S, Asia and Oceania will be able to access the internet free of charge.
Since Hawaiian Airlines announced their intentions to add Starlink, other airlines have followed suit, most recently with Qatar Airways, the largest airline to partner with SpaceX so far.
