Image: Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui said Tuesday it has signed an agreement with SpaceX to equip its entire fleet with Starlink internet, with free access in every travel class and an expected launch in 2027.
The airline’s announcement, released at 2 p.m. Eastern, formalizes a connectivity plan that had been reported in July. It is an agreement announcement, not the start of an already operating onboard service.
Free access across the fleet
The carrier said passengers would be able to use the connection from takeoff to landing for activities including streaming, email and messaging. It promised free internet in all cabins rather than limiting access to a premium fare class.
Air Tahiti Nui described Starlink as a low-latency service, citing a range of 25 to 30 milliseconds and coverage over oceans and near the poles. Those are the airline’s stated expectations; Tuesday’s release did not include passenger testing or measured performance on its aircraft.
Chief Executive Lionel Guérin said high-speed connectivity had become a basic passenger expectation and that the airline was investing in the service as part of its wider development plan.
A formal agreement after earlier planning
July reporting by Radio 1 Tahiti, carried by Outremers360, had already described plans to install Starlink during 2027 on the airline’s four Boeing 787s. That account said the board had approved the satellite-internet choice alongside longer-term cabin modernization plans.
Tuesday’s announcement adds the signed SpaceX agreement and a fleetwide commitment to free service. It did not provide a month-by-month installation schedule, a first equipped aircraft or an exact first passenger flight.
The airline also did not disclose the contract value or installation cost in the release. Travelers should therefore treat 2027 as the stated rollout expectation, rather than assume the service will be available on a particular booked flight.
Air Tahiti Nui serves French Polynesia with flights linking Tahiti to markets including Paris, Los Angeles, Auckland, Sydney and Tokyo, according to the carrier. The long overwater routes make onboard connectivity a service issue for passengers traveling across several time zones.
JBizNews Desk | Papeete
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