50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

LATAM Group to implement onboard wi-fi on long-haul aircraft with a $60 million investment

Download: Printable PDF Date: 07 Jul 2025 07:14 (UTC) category:
Publisher:
LATAM Group to implement onboard wi-fi on long-haul aircraft with a $60 million investment - Airlines publisher
Dana Ermolenko
Aircraft: Airplanes

LATAM Group will begin offering onboard Wi-Fi on wide-body aircraft for long-haul flights such as Santiago–Sydney, Santiago–New York, Lima–Madrid, and São Paulo–London, among others. The new service will involve a total investment of $60 million and will begin implementation in 2026, complementing the connectivity already available on short- and medium-haul flights, reaffirming its commitment to innovation and a superior travel experience. The group projects that by the end of this year, 100% of the narrow-body fleet across all subsidiaries will be equipped with this service.

Paulo Miranda, Vice President of Customers at LATAM Airlines Group commented: “Our vision is to constantly evolve. The connectivity we are announcing today is about more than just onboard internet; it represents how we combine innovation and active listening to deliver a modern, connected experience that aligns with what our passengers truly value.” 

Don Buchman, VP and General Manager of Commercial Aviation at Viasat stated: “This is more than just onboard Wi-Fi; the next-generation connectivity service on LATAM Group’s aircraft represents a complete transformation and the natural evolution of how high-quality connectivity can deliver an exceptional experience.” 

To date, LATAM operates the largest connected fleet in the region, with over 250 aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi. In-flight Wi-Fi has already been used by more than 8 million passengers, with the most popular routes being Santiago–Fortaleza, and Lima–Havana.

This advancement is made possible through a commercial agreement with Viasat, a global leader in satellite communication. The selected technology, Viasat Amara, combines a multi-orbital network of geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites, ensuring a high-speed, low-latency internet connection with global coverage, even in remote areas like the South Pacific.

In addition to benefiting passengers, this next-generation connectivity will optimize operations through:

  • Real-time communication between crew and ground teams

  • Data transmission for predictive aircraft maintenance

  • Route optimization via cockpit connectivity

The implementation of the new connectivity service on wide-body aircraft, aimed at further enhancing the passenger travel experience, adds to other key projects such as the retrofit program for all cabins in this fleet and the introduction of new Business Suites, consolidating a value proposition focused on comfort, personalization, and onboard technology.

With the addition of Wi-Fi on long-haul flights, LATAM Group aims to keep every passenger connected—whether to send an urgent message, share the excitement of a dream trip with loved ones far away, or simply feel closer to home, even thousands of kilometers away.

LATAM Play
The Wi-Fi service is part of LATAM Play, the platform that brings together all onboard connectivity and entertainment systems into a single channel.

In total, LATAM Group offers its customers more than 300 movies, over 1,000 TV episodes, more than 2,000 music tracks, and children’s and reading content to enjoy during their flights. It has established itself as a regional leader with world-class content, including productions from three onboard streaming platforms: Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+.





Recommended

De Havilland Canada delivers first Twin Otter Classic 300-G to Ethiopian Airlines

De Havilland Canada announced the delivery of the first of two Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline.The aircraft will support Ethiopian Airlines&rsqu...

A new era of luxury: Etihad’s celebrated A380 debuts in Tokyo

Etihad Airways celebrated the inaugural flight of its iconic Airbus A380 to Japan, which touched down at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport on 18 June. The arrival marks a landmark moment for...

Special Missions Cessna SkyCourier to appear at Farnborough International Airshow

Textron Aviation will return to the Farnborough International Airshow with a Cessna SkyCourier on static display, giving global customers and media an up‑close look at the aircraft’s e...

Airmedic expands its international reach and unveils a new medical cabin for its Bombardier Learjet 45XR fleet

Airmedic unveiled a new medical cabin purpose-built for its Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft. Already in service aboard the first aircraft, this permanent clinical environment supports patient tr...

Android Apps development in Riga, Latvia