By Youssef Yahya 
Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, has announced that it will equip 50 of its new Airbus A350 aircraft with high-speed, inflight broadband powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation. This new agreement will significantly improve the passenger experience with enhanced connectivity and greater global coverage, even on flights over the Arctic.
The Airbus A350s will be the first Emirates aircraft to take advantage of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, which powers the world’s first and only globally available broadband network, ensuring passengers can enjoy uninterrupted global connectivity, no matter their destination, including the North Pole.
Enhanced Connectivity
The advanced high-speed capabilities of the broadband will enable Emirates passengers to stay connected with family and friends, browse the internet, and enjoy social media, all from the comfort of their seat. The GX network that will power the Emirates inflight broadband currently consists of five Ka-band satellites and will be further enhanced with the addition of seven more satellite payloads as part of Inmarsat’s fully funded technology roadmap. This includes two Inmarsat-6s, the most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever built, both of which are scheduled to enter service in 2023.
Global Coverage
The three additional satellites in geostationary orbit will add speed, capacity, and resilience to the network, and two in highly elliptical orbit will enable the world’s only commercial mobile broadband service for aircraft flying in higher elevations and across the Arctic, such as routes between the Middle East and North America. Emirates COO Adel Al Redha said,
“Delivering a world-class onboard experience has always been paramount to Emirates and we understand the importance of being connected during flights. Over the years, we have worked closely with Inmarsat and our supplier partners to ensure all our aircraft offer Wi-Fi connectivity. We look forward to finding ways and options to improve the connectivity on-board our aircraft by utilising GX Aviation for our Airbus A350 fleet.”
Emirates COO Adel Al Redha
About Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network
Inmarsat’s GX network, currently comprising of five Ka-band satellites, will expand with the addition of seven more payloads, including the advanced Inmarsat-6s, set to enter service in 2023. The two high elliptical orbit satellites, GX10A and GX10B, will allow for internet access at higher altitudes and over the Arctic, making it possible for Emirates passengers to have uninterrupted connectivity on flights over the Arctic.
Skywards members to benefit
In addition to the new inflight broadband, Emirates has also introduced connectivity enhancements for Skywards members, including complimentary internet access throughout the flight for all Skywards Gold or Silver members traveling in Business Class, in addition to First Class, and Platinum members traveling in any cabin class.
Emirates’ Brand Promise to ‘Fly Better’ Continues
Emirates continues to deliver on its brand promise to ‘fly better’ and this new agreement with Inmarsat to equip its new Airbus A350 aircraft with high-speed inflight broadband is another step in the right direction. The enhanced connectivity and global coverage will provide passengers with an even better onboard experience, allowing them to stay connected with family and friends, browse the internet, and enjoy social media, all from the comfort of their seat.
Emirates recent awards
The airline has recently won several global travel and aviation awards, including ‘Best Airline in the World’ at the ULTRAs 2022, and a ‘World Class Award’, ‘5 Star Global Official Airline Rating’, and ‘Passenger Choice Award for Best Global Entertainment’ at APEX 2023, and ‘World’s Best Economy Class’, ‘World’s Best Economy Class Catering’, and for the 17th consecutive time, ‘World’s Best Inflight Entertainment’ at Skytrax 2022.
READ ALSO: How does Wi-Fi Work Onboard Airplanes?
Featured Image by: Emirates
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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Mohammed Rizwan