Beginning in October 2016, Lufthansa introduced onboard internet for its short- and medium-haul flights. Lufthansa Technik became the first European MRO to receive a Supplemental Type Certificate from EASA, authorizing installation of a Ka-band antenna on the Airbus A320 family, including A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. The carrier aimed to equip the entire A320 fleet with this broadband satellite technology by mid-2018.
The initial aircraft was outfitted in late 2016 and underwent weeks of testing to ensure functionality and stability; passenger access to the service began in October. Other airlines within the Lufthansa Group planned similar installations following these tests.
Lufthansa Technik managed the installation of all systems and hardware, carrying out necessary modifications to meet aeronautical and regulatory standards. The onboard connectivity service, developed by Lufthansa in cooperation with technology partner Inmarsat, uses the Ka-band satellite network to provide reliable coverage on short- and medium-haul routes. Passengers are offered basic web browsing and email access, with the capability to stream video. Future updates were planned to enable SMS texting and mobile data transfer via passengers’ cell phones.
This project represented the first deployment of the Inmarsat GX communications network in Europe. The modifications included both interior and exterior changes that were integrated into the aircraft’s infrastructure so they remain unobtrusive to passengers and straightforward for cabin crew to maintain.
Lufthansa has a history of pioneering onboard internet. The airline operated the world’s first flight with broadband internet in January 2003, though that early service ended in 2006 after Connexion by Boeing halted commercial operations. In December 2010, Lufthansa resumed offering broadband internet on intercontinental flights. By July 2015, FlyNet was available across all 107 long-haul aircraft in Lufthansa’s fleet, giving the airline the largest internet-enabled long-haul fleet in operation at that time.