Hawaiian Airlines became the world’s first major airline to deploy Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency broadband internet on Thursday, February 8, 2024. The service debuted on flight N228HA, and Airbus A321neo, traveling between Honolulu and Long Beach.
On Thursday (February 8, 2024), announced the launch of high-speed Starlink internet, which debuted on flight N228HA, an Airbus A321neo, flying from Honolulu to Long Beach, California. Hawaiian has now become the world’s first major carrier to deploy Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency broadband internet onboard, and the service will now be rolled out on select A321neo aircraft in the coming months. The complimentary service is available from the moment a guest boards, without tedious registration and payment portals, and offers speeds that allow streaming, gaming, and other connected experiences often enjoyed at home.
In Thursday’s announcement, Hawaiian Airlines’ Senior Director of Engineering, Chris Liebertz, said in part,
“In marrying this best-in-class technology with our authentic Hawaiian hospitality, we are offering our guests a travel experience unlike any other airline flying to and from the Hawaiian Islands….”
“…Today marks a huge milestone not just for my team but for both companies. It has been an incredible journey working with the Starlink team to get our A321neos equipped with this exceptional service. I’m looking forward to my next flight so I can join our guests in experiencing how game-changing this technology will be for aviation.”
Also commenting on Hawaiian’s Starlink rollout, SpaceX’s Director of Starlink Engineering, Will Seidel, added,
“Starlink’s self-designed aviation terminal installed on Hawaiian's aircraft allows each plane to receive strong, fast internet signals from the satellites orbiting above Earth. The terminal will seamlessly switch connections from satellite to satellite as planes cross the Pacific, providing an uninterrupted internet experience for passengers.”
Hawaiian and Starlink are working together to roll out the technology across the carrier’s long-haul fleet. The airline expects to install and activate antennas on al 18 of their A321neos by spring 2024, followed by A330s by the end of this year, and later on their flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Hawaiian® Airlines, Hawai’i’s hometown airline, has been the number one U.S. carrier for on-time performance for the past 18 years (2004-2021). The carrier has been in business for 95 years and is Hawaiʻi’s largest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian Airlines offers approximately 150 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands and daily nonstop service to 16 U.S. mainland gateways. Additionally, the carrier connects Honolulu with American Samoa, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA).
Source: Hawaiian Airlines