A plane for J-AIR. Photo: J-AIR/Intelsat

Intelsat and J-AIR are rolling out in-flight connectivity on the Japanese airline’s Embraer E190 aircraft, the companies announced Dec. 28. J-AIR is a Japan Airlines subsidiary that offers regional flights in Japan. 

Japan Airlines has installed Intelsat’s 2Ku system on the first of J-AIR’s E190 aircraft and the service is now available on select flights. Japan Airlines will be installing 13 additional aircraft by fall 2024. This deal makes J-AIR the first regional aircraft in Japan to offer inflight entertainment and connectivity services, as well as the first E190 aircraft equipped globally with the Intelsat 2Ku system.

Japan Airlines has been offering free wireless entertainment services since 2016, and the 2Ku service will also be free to customers. 

“We have worked closely with Intelsat to deliver the best connectivity experience on Japan Airlines and the JAL group fleet,” said Keisuke Suzuki, senior vice president of Customer Experience of Japan Airlines. “Intelsat’s capable and reliable 2Ku system will provide miles of entertainment to our customers making J-AIR the first regional aircraft offering the IFC services in Japan.”

In February, Intelsat signed a capacity agreement with Sky Perfect JSAT for capacity on its JCSAT-1C satellite over Japan and Asia to support in-flight connectivity.