In-flight internet via Starlink

 From Tesmanian

JSX, a charter airline that offers private point-to-point flights, will be the first to use SpaceX Starlink Internet during flights. “JSX is proud to be the first air carrier to adopt SpaceX Starlink internet inflight, free for every Customer onboard. We’d call it the best Wi-Fi in the sky, but it’s actually the greatest Wi-Fi in the galaxy - coming later this year,” announced JSX representatives on April 21st. The airline also released a video clip that says - “The best Wi-Fi in the galaxy is coming to the world’s most joyful air carrier, announcing Starlink Wi-Fi on JSX complimentary for every customer. Launching this year.” The video is linked in the Tweet below. JSX currently provides non-stop flights between airports located in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, Texas, and New York. The private airline operates Embraer ERJ-135 and ERJ-145 aircraft, capable of transporting 30 to 50 passengers.

SX CEO Alex Wilcox told CNBC reporters that they plan to equip 100 airplanes with SpaceX Starlink terminals to receive internet from the satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The announcement comes after Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian told The Wall Street Journal reporters the commercial airline company is performing “exploratory testing” of the Starlink internet technology and in ongoing discussions with SpaceX representatives.

SpaceX Vice President of Commercial Sales Jonathan Hofeller participated in a panel discussion at the Airline Passenger Experience Association in November last year, where he said that SpaceX aims to offer Starlink internet service to airlines “as soon as possible” and mentioned the company was already testing it with several aircraft. “We have our own aviation product in development […] we’ve already done some demonstrations to date, and looking to get that product finalized to be put on aircraft in the very near future,” he said. Hofeller also shared with the panel that the Starlink antenna used aboard airplanes will feature technology similar to its consumer terminals “with obvious enhancements for aviation connectivity.”