Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), an EchoStar company, has announced that Air India has selected Hughes in-flight connectivity to provide in-flight Wi-Fi service using a single connectivity platform across its mixed widebody fleet. Hughes will use Airbus HBCplus for A350-1000 aircraft and the RAVE Aerospace solution for Boeing 787- 8 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The current selection applies to an initial group of existing and new widebody aircraft in the Air India fleet.
“Always-on broadband Internet connectivity is a fundamental expectation of today’s digitally savvy consumers. Our strategic vision is to provide connectivity with home-broadband like bandwidth and latency on Air India’s international and domestic flights so that connecting from our flights feels the same as connecting from home”, said Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Air India.
He added: “In this journey, we are pleased to partner with Hughes as their global launch customer to offer an in-flight connectivity service that takes into account the existing regulatory considerations and satellite coverage capabilities along the global flight paths of our wide body aircraft, with a roadmap to seamlessly upgrade to home-broadband levels within the next two years.”
“At Hughes, we are committed to advancing in-flight connectivity that empowers airlines like Air India, a leader in digital capabilities in the airline industry, to deliver seamless digital experiences for their passengers,” said Ramesh Ramaswamy, Executive Vice President at Hughes Network Systems. “Our innovative platform not only enhances passenger experience but also drives operational excellence, positioning Air India to deliver an exceptional customer experience.”
Hughes In-Flight Connectivity provides defined performance parameters and supports multiple commercial arrangements that can scale with passenger usage patterns. Using global coverage and multi-orbit connectivity, Air India can standardize plans, pricing, entitlements, and promotions while still tailoring offers by route, cabin, or customer segment. This approach is intended to maintain consistency in onboard connectivity as it is integrated into the airline’s passenger services.
“Hughes is honored to partner with Air India as the airline modernizes connectivity across its widebody fleet,” said Reza Rasoulian, SVP and GM of the Aviation Business Unit at Hughes. “With Hughes In-Flight Connectivity, Air India can deliver a consistent, connected onboard digital experience across both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This common solution allows Air India to harmonize their passenger experience, operational tools, deploy digital services faster across their fleet, and has a roadmap pole-to-pole, low-latency LEO connectivity with minimal aircraft modifications.”
Beyond passenger connectivity, the solution will support operational functions by enabling aircraft monitoring, crew applications, payment validation, and flight-deck services. Air India’s deployment uses the Hughes JUPITER™ Ka-band fabric and uses a consistent onboard connectivity configuration and shared operational tools, using a consistent onboard connectivity configuration and shared operational tools across both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This solution from Hughes has a roadmap to lower latency LEO capability.