Next-generation satellite internet technology to be installed on JetBlue planes as Kuiper service provides enhanced connectivity

JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced it will be the first airline in the world to sign on with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, an advanced low Earth orbit satellite broadband network, to bring even faster and more reliable connectivity to its popular onboard Wi-Fi known as Fly-Fi.

JetBlue launched Fly-Fi in 2013 to become the first and still only major U.S. airline to offer free, high-speed Wi-Fi on every aircraft in its fleet. Building on that foundation, JetBlue will start to introduce Project Kuiper’s cutting-edge technology on a portion of its fleet in 2027. This planned rollout would mark the next evolution of Fly-Fi and inflight connectivity, with the aim of keeping customers streaming, scrolling and sharing with ease from gate to gate and always for free.

“Our agreement with Project Kuiper marks an exciting leap forward for us as the hands-down leader in onboard connectivity,” said Marty St. George, president, JetBlue. “Whether it’s binge-watching a favorite show, staying connected with loved ones, or wrapping up a work project, we’re always looking for ways to make our customers’ time in the air as connected and productive as they want it to be.”

It is the latest move in JetBlue’s JetForward strategy, which focuses on delivering the perks and products customers value most including onboard experiences with the speed, simplicity, and service that sets JetBlue apart.

“Staying connected is part of everyday life, even when you’re traveling,” said Panos Panay, senior vice president of Amazon Devices & Services. “With Project Kuiper, we’re working to ensure customers can enjoy fast, reliable internet wherever they are—at home or 35,000 feet in the air—and we’re pumped to bring that to life with JetBlue.”

New Era of Fly-Fi

Project Kuiper will deliver high-speed, low-latency internet to customers and communities around the world. The system is built around a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit—connected to each other by high-speed optical links that will create a mesh network in space—and linked to a global network of antennas, fiber, and internet connection points on the ground. Amazon has deployed more than 100 satellites to date, and is continuing to increase its production, processing and launch rates ahead of an initial service rollout.

JetBlue will install Project Kuiper technology on aircraft currently flying JetBlue’s original Fly-Fi technology, enhancing the customer experience with its next-gen satellite connectivity with faster speeds and lower latency.

Today, JetBlue is the only major airline that offers free, high-speed Fly-Fi on every aircraft using advanced geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite technology. This technology provides the gate-to-gate connectivity that customers know and love. While aircraft outfitted with Project Kuiper will rely on the new low Earth orbit system, JetBlue is positioned to explore a multi-orbit solution in the future, which could combine the strengths of both its low Earth orbit and GEO networks for even more robust inflight connectivity.

JetBlue expects to begin rolling out Project Kuiper’s system in 2027 with a phased rollout to follow. More details on installation timelines, routes, and aircraft will be shared as things progress. Learn more about Project Kuiper here.

Source: BUSINESS WIRE