Qatar Airways rolls out Inmarsat's GX Aviation
Inmarsats GX Aviation inflight broadband service is currently being rolled out on more than 130 of Qatar Airways Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft.
Courtesy Inmarsat
Qatar Airways is the first airline in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to offer GX Aviation, the world’s first inflight broadband solution with reliable, seamless high-speed global coverage provided through a single operator.
The rollout follows a highly successful inflight test campaign across the airlines’ global flight routes. As part of the service offering, passengers will now be offered one-hour of free access to GX Aviation, after which full-flight access can be affordably purchased.
Greatest innovators
Mr Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Qatar Airways is renowned as one of the greatest innovators in global aviation with passengers being at the centre of everything they do.
“We are delighted that they are now pioneering our game-changing GX Aviation inflight broadband across the globe. This unprecedented service adds to the airline’s award-winning, five-star onboard experience by allowing passengers to seamlessly browse the internet, stream videos, check social media and more during flights.”
His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said: “In another first for the MENA region, Qatar Airways passengers can now enjoy high-speed broadband connectivity, providing rich content without restriction, whether using the internet for work or relaxation during their journey. Business travellers, in particular, will be able to maximise their ‘office in the sky’ with seamless continuity.”
JetWave terminals
Airlines connect to the GX network using exclusive new JetWave terminals produced by Honeywell Aerospace. The terminals are designed for ease of installation and maintenance to assure the lowest downtime for any cabin connectivity solution in the market, allowing installation with minimal labour and using standard tools available in maintenance hangars.
The rollout of GX Aviation follows a separate announcement that Qatar Airways has activated an advanced new space-based system, supplied by Inmarsat, to track all of its flights across the world.
Inmarsat have worked exclusively with Qatar Airways to develop this solution, which utilises Inmarsat's satellite technology to provide the exact real-time location of the airline’s aircraft in latitude and longitude.