AirX adds high-speed Wi-Fi to Airbus A340 9H-BIG, plans 100 new lie-flat seats
Why It MattersOperators of large VIP airliners are competing on connectivity and cabin quality, aiming to win group charters such as sports teams, government and music tours, and brokers.
AirX has introduced high-speed inflight Wi-Fi on its Airbus A340, registration 9H-BIG, and plans to replace all 100 passenger seats on the aircraft with new lie-flat seating. The company says the widebody's capacity of 100 seats and substantial cargo space give it a distinctive proposition for large-group charter.
Wi-Fi on 9H-BIG is provided through Gogo Galileo, powered by Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit satellite network. The connectivity rollout is also progressing across AirX's wider fleet: four Challenger 850 aircraft have been fitted with Gogo Plane Simple Ku-band connectivity, and further installations are planned for the Lineage 1000, Challenger 604 and Legacy 600 fleets, with the work coordinated around scheduled maintenance wherever possible to minimise downtime.
AirX says it continues to see demand from football and other major sports teams, government travel, music tours and corporate charter. John B. Matthews, Chairman and Founder of AirX, said the aircraft combines a widebody platform, 100 lie-flat seats, high-speed Wi-Fi and substantial cargo capacity, and that the targeted investments give brokers a more compelling proposition to take to market. AirX is a European private jet charter operator founded in 2011, with a fleet of 21 aircraft across heavy jets and VIP airliners.
