Hawaiian Airlines has announced a delay in the installation of SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation inflight connectivity system. Originally planned for launch this year, the WiFi enhancement is now expected to be implemented in early 2024. The delay is attributed to the ongoing efforts of the Starlink team to obtain certification and modification kits for the carrier’s Airbus A321 and A330 fleets, which will be the first aircraft types to receive the system.

In addition to the A321neo and A330 installations, Hawaiian Airlines has confirmed plans to equip incoming Boeing 787-9s with Starlink Aviation IFC hardware. However, the Boeing 717s used for short-haul journeys will not be retrofitted with the system.

Hawaiian Airlines aims to provide free connectivity to its passengers, ensuring that there will be no charge to access the internet when flying on their aircraft equipped with Starlink. The airline joins other carriers, including airBaltic, Zipair Tokyo, and JSX, in embracing this game-changing connectivity solution. JSX has already retrofitted its entire Embraer ERJ fleet, which consists of 77 aircraft, with the Starlink system.

While the delay may disappoint passengers hoping for immediate access to improved inflight connectivity, the certification process and modification kits are essential to ensure the seamless integration of the Starlink system into Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet.

Sources:
Hawaiian Airlines: https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/
Starlink: https://www.starlink.com/

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