Airline SAS unveils IFE system
May 17, 2018
By Chris Forrester
Journalists were able to test SAS’s new Ka-band In Flight Entertainment and connectivity system from Copenhagen airport earlier this week. The signals come from the Eutelsat/ViaSat jointly operated Ka-Sat satellite.
SAS says 7 of its aircraft are now equipped with ViaSat’s reception/transmission equipment, and its 82 spotbeams from Ka-Sat which cover Europe and the Nordic regions. SAS adds that installation onto its complete fleet is ongoing and will be complete by 2020.
SAS promotional activity for the service describes it as “WiFi imagined by travellers” and promises passengers can stream non-stop high-speed WiFi while on board.
ViaSat already supplies similar services to passengers in the US.
SAS passengers with their Gold or Diamond frequent flyer status get the service free. Economy passengers without such status pay $7 (€4.90) per flight.