Latam to spend over $25 million on satellite wifi for more than 60 aircraft

Latam Airlines has announced an investment of more than 25 million US dollars, around 21 million euros, in new satellite-based internet connections for more than 60 aircraft. The rollout will cover Airbus A320neo and A321XLR jets, along with Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, over the coming years.

The connectivity will use technology from SES, which draws on satellites in multiple orbits with the aim of providing a fast and largely continuous internet link during flights.

Latam already has wifi on more than 250 aircraft in its fleet, including over 200 jets from the Airbus A320 family equipped with 2Ku technology, according to the airline. Members of the carrier's frequent flyer programme, Latam Pass, can use the onboard internet free of charge.

The airline did not specify an exact timeline for completing installation across the new batch of aircraft. It also did not break down costs by aircraft type.

The investment adds to Latam's existing connectivity fleet, which already numbers in the hundreds. That suggests the carrier is extending a service it already offers widely, rather than launching something entirely new.