Telus and WestJet announced Wednesday the first step in a multi-year strategic partnership that will provide free Wi-Fi connectivity delivered by satellite network operator Starlink onboard WestJet aircraft, starting in December 2024.
Access to the new inflight system will be provided exclusively to WestJet Rewards members free of charge thanks to Telus, a press release says.
The announcement marks the beginning of a fully integrated partnership between Telus and WestJet, with additional, exclusive benefits and perks for WestJet Rewards members and Telus customers to be announced in the coming months, the release says.
“The future of inflight connectivity and entertainment is here, and we’re excited to enter this long-term partnership with WestJet to enhance the flying experience for guests and bring more value to WestJet Rewards members and TELUS customers, whether they are on the ground or in the air,” Zainul Mawji, executive vice president and president of Telus consumer solutions, said in the release.
WestJet will be the largest North American and first commercial Boeing 737 airline to offer inflight connectivity powered by Starlink’s technology platform, which includes the world’s largest satellite constellation, according to the release. The airline selected Starlink as its new inflight technology partner “for its ability to deliver enough bandwidth and lowest latency internet for every guest onboard to live-stream videos or online game direct from their devices as if they were at home,” the release says.
“With more than 1,000 aircraft committed to Starlink worldwide, high-speed, low-latency internet is the future of aviation connectivity and we’re excited to work with WestJet to bring Starlink technology to their guests in the coming months,” said Jason Fritch, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink enterprise sales.
The new platform will launch before the end of 2024, with plans to complete the installation on WestJet’s modern narrowbody fleet by the end of 2025, the release says. All wide-body WestJet aircraft are planned to be upgraded by the end of 2026.
Photo courtesy of WestJet and Telus
