Passengers on JetBlue flights will soon have access to one of the strongest in-flight Wi-Fi networks on the market.
The New York-based carrier just announced it will be the first airline in the world to sign an agreement with Amazon’s Project Kuiper Wi-Fi, with its first planes joining the network by 2027.
Project Kuiper is an advanced low Earth orbit satellite broadband network that will bring faster and more reliable connectivity to JetBlue flights, according to the airline. When the high-speed Wi-Fi debuts aboard JetBlue’s planes, customers will be able to stay connected from gate to gate, including using high-bandwidth apps, like those for streaming content.
“Our agreement with Project Kuiper marks an exciting leap forward for us as the hands-down leader in onboard connectivity,” said Marty St. George, president, JetBlue. “Whether it’s binge-watching a favorite show, staying connected with loved ones, or wrapping up a work project, we’re always looking for ways to make our customers’ time in the air as connected and productive as they want it to be.”
The carrier is known as an in-flight Wi-Fi pioneer, as it was the first airline in the United States to offer free, high-speed Wi-Fi across its fleet, using geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites. JetBlue says it plans to install the Project Kuiper technology on aircraft that currently operate its current in-flight Wi-Fi product, “enhancing the customer experience with its next-gen satellite connectivity with faster speeds and lower latency,” the airline said.
The Kuiper network will rely on thousands of satellites in low-orbit around Earth, all connected through antennas, fiber, and internet connection points on the ground. Amazon has so far launched more than 100 satellites as part of the project and will continue to increase launch rates before the service’s initial rollout.
“While aircraft outfitted with Project Kuiper will rely on the new low Earth orbit system, JetBlue is positioned to explore a multi-orbit solution in the future, which could combine the strengths of both its low Earth orbit and GEO networks for even more robust inflight connectivity,” the airline said.
After the first Kuiper-connected planes debut in 2027, a phased rollout throughout the carrier’s fleet will follow. JetBlue says it plans to release more details on the project, including specifics on timelines and routes, as the rollout progresses.
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