Report: Starlink missing out aviation connections
September 5, 2024
By Chris Forrester
A report from analysts at QuiltSpace says that Elon Musk’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system is missing out business with airlines, themselves rapidly adopting satellite delivery for their in-flight communications and entertainment services.
Quilty praises Starlink for hitting the maritime industry “like a tsunami” and swallowing up cruise lines, yachts, and merchant vessels at such high rates that competitors must adapt or die. But Quilty said: “when it comes to aviation, however, Starlink hasn’t quite taken flight with the same ease.”
Quilty comments on recent interviews with aviation industry leaders each of which had evaluated Starlink, but found it lacking. Quilty says the responses, as far as Starlink were concerned, were “Tepid. None went with Starlink, instead choosing other providers like Viasat, Anuvu, and Intelsat/OneWeb. This begs the question, why isn’t Starlink dominating the skies the way it is the seas?”
“Between these interviews and the experiences of other inflight connectivity service providers, three reasons emerge,” said Quilty.
First is that “Starlink’s IFC antennas aren’t making the cut. Multiple airlines spoke of a desire for better electronically steered antennas, and the emergence of Starlink hasn’t scratched that itch. According to Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne, Starlink’s aviation antennas are essentially repurposed consumer antennas, which struggle to endure the extreme conditions of the airborne environment.”
The second complaint is that Starlink’s broadband to aircraft doesn’t allow airlines to insert their own ‘landing page’ which could permit selling other services. “According to AeroMexico, Starlink wi-fi connects passengers straight to the internet without giving airlines a landing page or other means to interact with their customers. Airlines don’t like that, as it limits touch points for selling other goods and services,” said Quilty.
The third objection is that Starlink is unwilling or unable to offer Service Level Agreements (SLA) or Committed Information Rates (CIRs) demanded by premium satcom users.
Quilty confirms that there are airlines who have chosen Starlink including Hawaiian Airlines, Japan’s Zipair, airBaltic in Latvia, and Qatar Airways which all use Starlink.
Quilty admits that room exists, “largely of Starlink’s own making, for other IFC service providers to hold their own.”