Turkish Airlines has become the latest carrier to join Airbus’ Airspace Link HBCplus Ka-band satellite-supported broadband inflight connectivity program. The addition of Turkish Airlines brings the total number of HBCplus customers to 13, Airbus confirmed during a media briefing held at the APEX Global EXPO.
Under the agreement, Turkish Airlines has selected SES’s multi-orbit MEO/GEO satellite communication service from Airbus’ managed service provider (MSP) catalogue. This cutting-edge service will be delivered by SES in partnership with Neo Space Group (NSG), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). SES’s MEO (medium-Earth orbit) and GEO (geostationary orbit) satellite networks are designed to deliver seamless, high-speed inflight connectivity across the globe.
The HBCplus platform represents a revolutionary shift in the inflight connectivity market by separating the connectivity hardware from the service provider. This structure allows airlines to switch MSPs without the need to change the hardware installed on their aircraft, significantly increasing flexibility and potentially reducing costs for airlines. It also offers the potential for future service upgrades as satellite technology continues to evolve.