Photo: Aerolíneas Argentinas

Intelsat has made a breakthrough in the in-flight connectivity (IFC) market in Latin America. It announced Nov. 20 that Aerolíneas Argentinas has tapped Intelsat to provide multi-orbit in-flight connectivity services on 18 Airbus A330 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

The airline will become the first in Latin America to offer service using Intelsat’s new electronically steered antenna (ESA). It is less than 7 centimeters tall and interoperates on both Intelsat’s family of Geostationary (GEO) satellites and its partner’s constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)

It is the second major deal with a Latin American airline Intelsat has announced over the last couple of years. In Feb. 2022, Latam Airlines Group selected Intelsat for IFC services for its fleet of Airbus narrow body aircraft including A320ceo and A320neo variants, based in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. The installations will include up to 160 total aircraft and will take three years to complete.

“Aerolíneas Argentinas’ passengers will soon benefit from multi-orbit connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home. Intelsat’s partnerships with innovative Latin American airlines highlight how the region’s carriers are leading the way when it comes to the most advanced connectivity,” Dave Bijur, senior vice president for Commercial Aviation, Intelsat, said in a statement.