JetBlue Airways teams up with ViaSat

JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) and ViaSat Inc. announced their intent to create a new inflight broadband for commercial aviation, using ViaSat’s innovative high-capacity satellite technology.

ViaSat and JetBlue have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the provision of in-flight broadband access and other services for customers on JetBlue’s fleet of more than 160 aircraft using ViaSat advanced Ka-band satellites. Under the arrangement, ViaSat will provide Ka-band antenna components and SurfBeam®2 modems for installation on the airline’s Embraer ERJ 190 and Airbus A320 aircraft types along with two-way transmission bandwidth services using the WildBlue-1 and high-capacity ViaSat-1 satellites. JetBlue subsidiary, LiveTV LLC, will manage the integration of the ViaSat broadband and related components onboard the aircraft as well as providing the Wi-Fi enabled services into the overall cabin experience.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-232 N645JB (msn 2900) climbs away from runway 27R at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.