ATR, the world’s leading regional aircraft manufacturer, has announced that it has successfully completed the certification process with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the introduction of the Starlink high-speed internet connectivity system onboard its ATR72 family of regional turboprop aircraft.

Following several successful test flights carried out on ATR’s 72-600 testbed aircraft performed from the company’s base in Toulouse, France, over recent months, the company announced in a statement issued on January 21, 2025, that EASA has given its Starlink program the green light, paving the way for ATR72 operators worldwide to introduce the system onto their aircraft.  

Long-standing partner in the development program, Air New Zealand, is poised to be the launch customer for the newly certified system and is expected to introduce it to its short-haul ATR fleet in 2025. The company recently received its 30th ATR aircraft which had undertaken a marathon weeklong delivery flight from Toulouse to New Zealand. Its journey spanned more than 12,500 miles (20,000km) with stops in Heraklion, Riyadh, Oman, Hyderabad, Kuala Lumpur, Denpasar, Darwin, and Brisbane before landing in Christchurch. 

Engineered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, Starlink became the world’s first satellite constellation using a low-Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more. While its use has been rolled out by several airlines over recent years, this milestone marks the first time the system has been certified for use on short-haul turboprop aircraft.

“Starlink opens up a new era for ATR, offering unparalleled levels of comfort and passenger experience in the regional market,” stated Daniel Cuchet, Senior Vice-President Engineering at ATR. “This achievement demonstrates our dedication to staying ahead of the curve, responding to the latest travel trends in line with our customers’ expectations, and collaborating with industry-leading partners who share a vision of excellence and innovation to transform the way people experience air travel.” 

Under the terms of the agreement between ATR and Air New Zealand, specialist firm PMV Engineering has developed the necessary modifications for the certification of the Starlink aero terminal to be fixed to the exterior of any ATR72 aircraft. The option will be available as a retrofit option on all ATR72-500 and ATR72-600 aircraft in service and to all ATR operators through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). 

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