Icelandair Selects Viasat for High-Speed Wi-Fi on Airbus A321LR

Passengers flying on Icelandair’s new Airbus aircraft will enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi onboard thanks to the airline’s partnership with satellite communications provider Viasat.

In a press release, the internet service provider announced that the Icelandic flag carrier has chosen its Wi-Fi solutions to keep its passengers connected when flying with its new fleet of Airbus A321LR aircraft.

Icelandair is scheduled to take delivery of these brand-new long-range planes during the fourth quarter of 2024, and they are expected to be used to operate several routes from Iceland to both Europe and North America.

Photo: Icelandair, Airbus A321neo. Courtesy of Airbus

Viasat uses its own network of satellites to deliver reliable high-speed internet. It also has the ability to flex its satellite capacity to meet concentrations of intense demand, eliminating instances when passengers find their connection slowing down when sharing bandwidth with the rest of the cabin.

This consistent, high-speed connectivity will allow passengers to seamlessly browse the internet and stream entertainment such as movies, TV shows, and music on their own devices from the minute they board the plane.

Icelandair currently uses Viasat technology to deliver high-speed internet on its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft fleet, having first partnered in 2021.

Photo: Courtesy of Boeing

Currently, passengers in economy class can purchase access to a single Wi-Fi device for €10 ($10.87) on flights between Iceland and Europe and €20 ($21.75) on flights between Iceland and the U.S. or Canada.

Frequent flyers can also pay for the service using Saga Points, while Saga Premium Saga Premium Flex passengers, as well as Saga Gold members, can get complimentary access on up to two devices.

“By expanding our high-speed streaming Wi-Fi offering to the new aircraft, we are doubling down on the state-of-the-art connectivity that has become a highly sought-after element of the Icelandair passenger experience,” said Helga Huld Bjarnadóttir, Icelandair’s Director of Product and Service Management.

“Viasat has proven to be an innovative and trusted partner for how we approach the future of Wi-Fi at Icelandair, and we look forward to continuing this into the future.”

Don Buchman, VP and GM of Commercial Aviation at Viasat, said: “For several years now, we have enjoyed a great partnership with Icelandair while servicing its complete Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

Photo: Icelandair, Boeing 767-300ER Saga Premium. Courtesy of Enrique Perrella.

“We understand the patterns of Icelandair’s operation and passenger demand for in-flight Wi-Fi, and we are excited to extend this experience and trust to include fast and resilient connectivity on the new Airbus aircraft.”

Viasat is one of the most popular providers of high-speed onboard Wi-Fi in the world and is currently available on JetBlue and United Airlines flights, while it is coming to Qantas flights soon. And now, passengers can expect it on Icelandair by the end of the year. Icelandair serves 14 U.S. destinations, including New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Washington (IAD), and Denver (DEN), as well as three in Canada.