Delta Air Lines Partners with Airbus for Inflight Connectivity Solution on 20 New A350-1000s
- Joe Breitfeller
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Airbus has today announced that they have been selected by Delta Air Lines to provide the inflight connectivity solution for 20 new A350-1000s.
On Tuesday (April 14, 2026), from the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, Airbus announced that they have been selected by Delta Air Lines to outfit 20 A350-1000s on order with inflight connectivity, leveraging Airbus’ HBCplus. With this agreement, Delta has become Airbus’ first North-American customer for this line-fit offering. Airbus will work with Delta and Hughes to equip Delta’s A350-1000s with the multi-orbit in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution, co-developed by Delta and Hughes, and using Airbus’ HBCplus as the foundation for the aircraft integration. This solution is using HBCplus equipment and Hughes’ ‘Fusion’ IFC product. For the low earth orbit (LEO) portion of Fusion, Airbus will support Delta in the post-delivery modifications to complement the line-fit installation with an electronically steered array (ESA) antenna.
In Tuesday’s announcement, Delta Air Lines – Director – Cabin Programs, Joseph Eddy, said,
“Leveraging Airbus’ industry leading systems integration and engineering capabilities, to integrate our Hughes’ multi-orbit IFC solution, is a natural partnership that is already bringing real value to our delivery streams.”
Also commenting on the inflight connectivity collaboration, Hughes’ GM – Aviation Business, Reza Rasoulian, said,
“Hughes is pleased to be included in this project. As a member of the Airbus HBCplus programme, Hughes delivers a multi-orbit in-flight connectivity solution. We look forward to our Hughes Fusion IFC technology elevating the passenger experience aboard Delta’s A350-1000 fleet, ensuring seamless and reliable connectivity from gate to gate.”
Airbus’ VP and Head of the Connected Aircraft Programme, Tim Sommer, added,
“Connectivity is at the heart of passenger expectations today, as well as a key enabler to improving aircraft operations. This project is the epitome of our long-time relationship with Delta Air Lines, and a great example of industrial collaboration.”
Additionally, Airbus and Delta have agreed to explore the new HBCplus ‘modular’ approach and the integration with Delta Sync platform to enable best-in-class passenger experience and enhance airline operational performance. HBCplus is Airbus' flexible high-bandwidth satellite connectivity solution offered as a line-fit catalogue option and also for retrofit on all Airbus aircraft programs. HBCplus enables airlines to connect to a choice of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) via a certified terminal and radome built as part of the aircraft. HBCplus ‘modular’ is the next-generation HBCplus which can accommodate up to two antennas and connect to multiple satellite systems, giving airlines the flexibility to choose and update their vendor with an overnight retrofit.
Source: Airbus
