Viasat wins extra business from Korean Air
March 21, 2024
By Chris Forrester
Viasat has won a contract to equip 40 more Korean Air planes with In-Flight broadband connectivity.
The latest aircraft set to be connected in the Korean Air fleet will be 40 Boeing 787s, following news shared last year that Korean Air had committed to equipping 30 Airbus A321Neos with Viasat connectivity – its first in-flight connectivity partnership. This announcement will bring the total number of Korean Air aircraft to be equipped with Viasat’s connectivity solution to 70, with all aircraft scheduled to enter service by the end of 2027.
Korean Air is one of the world’s top 20 airlines, carrying more than 27 million passengers in 2019, pre-Covid. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport, the airline serves 111 cities in 40 countries on five continents with a modern fleet of 159 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.
By adding connectivity to the cabin across so many aircraft, Korean Air says it is committing to meeting passenger expectations for increased connectivity while onboard. With the high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi enabled by Viasat, Korean Air passengers will be able to browse the internet, enjoy social media, stream video and audio, shop online, catch-up with work, and more – all from the comfort of their seats.
Kenneth Chang, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Korean Air, said: “Our focus on enhancing passenger experience is crucial to our business – and adding more connectivity to our fleet will be a key step forward in achieving this. Bringing Viasat’s reliable, high-speed connectivity to more Korean Air flights means even more of our valued passengers will be able to benefit from exceptional Wi-Fi onboard.”
Don Buchman, VP/GM Commercial Aviation at Viasat, added: “Korean Air is a world class airline, and we’re really pleased to be extending our relationship as they continue to innovate to meet passenger demand for quality in-flight connectivity. We know that passengers around the world want to be connected in-flight, and our robust satellite network brings the reliable connectivity that enables this. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Korean Air to leverage consistently fast, high-quality Wi-Fi to deliver distinct digital experiences to more of its passengers.”