National carrier becomes first Viasat customer in Korea, marking the largest agreement for the inflight connectivity service in North Asia post pandemic
CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced that it has been selected as the inflight connectivity provider for Korean Air. Under the agreement, the Korean flag carrier has selected Viasat’s award-winning inflight broadband solution for its upcoming fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Korean Air will receive a total of 30 Airbus A321neos by 2027 as part of a fleet modernization plan, all of which will be delivered linefit with the global satellite company’s connectivity solution. These will be operated on short and mid-haul flights between the airline’s main hub in Seoul and destinations across the Asia region.
As the aviation industry continues to grow post-COVID, Korean Air has selected Viasat’s service in direct response to evolving market needs. A recent Passenger Experience Survey found that 89 percent of Korean respondents would be more likely to rebook with an airline if quality inflight Wi-Fi was available – compared to 82 percent globally.
The reliable, consistent, and high-speed inflight connectivity will enable Korean Air to meet passenger expectations for staying connected, browsing the internet, enjoying social media, streaming video and audio, shopping online, catching-up with work and more, all from the comfort of their seats.
“Today marks an important milestone for Korean Air, as we embark on our first inflight connectivity partnership. Our selection process started in 2018 and we’ve been focused on selecting the right solution that meets our business needs and can help us realize the untapped potential of our onboard experience,” said Kenneth Chang, Korean Air’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “It was clear that Viasat’s technology was unparalleled and they understood our vision. The new connectivity system will be a fundamental part of our digital strategy and customer experience going forward. Coupled with the advanced features of our fuel-efficient, next-generation A321neo aircraft, we look forward to taking our passenger experience to the next level.”
“We are proud to add Korean Air, a leading airline, as a valued inflight connectivity customer in this major market,” said Jimmy Dodd, SVP & President, Global Enterprise & Mobility at Viasat. “Key to our ability to service Korean Air’s new A321neo fleet is our robust satellite network, designed to deliver fast and reliable Wi-Fi for an exceptional passenger experience.”
The selection was secured in partnership with hardware provider Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) to develop the solution required by Korean Air. This included combining inflight connectivity (IFC) airtime and Safran’s Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) hardware. This partnership will enable Korean Air to extend its digital passenger journey, providing opportunities for direct engagement with passengers as well as enhancing their inflight experience.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.
Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
About Korean Air
Serving the world for more than 50 years, Korean Air is one of the world’s top 20 airlines, carrying more than 27 million passengers in 2019, pre-COVID. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 120 cities in 43 countries on five continents with a modern fleet of 156 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.
Korean Air’s outstanding performance and commitment to the highest level of safety and customer service was further highlighted during the pandemic; the airline was granted numerous awards including 2021 Airline of the Year and 2022 Cargo Operator of the Year by Air Transport World, and a 5-star COVID safety rating from Skytrax.
Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, and has grown into one of the largest transpacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
Dedicated to providing Excellence in Flight, Korean Air’s vision is to be a respected leader in the world airline community.
For more information about Korean Air, please visit www.koreanair.com, Korean Air Newsroom, instagram.com/KoreanAirworld and Twitter@KoreanAir_KE.
Press Release Forward-Looking Statements Template
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to Viasat and Korean Air’s partnership; the introduction of Viasat’s IFC service on Korean Air’s Airbus A321neo aircraft; the availability, capabilities, benefits and performance of Viasat’s IFC system; the number and types of planes and the timing to connect the Korean Air fleet. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of the satellite(s) used to supply these services, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; contractual problems; product defects; manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key suppliers; technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and other factors affecting the aviation sector generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
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