Intelsat linefit and SB wins see multi-orbit IFC come to E2, 787

HAMBURG — Securing linefit offerability at an airframer for a ‘passenger experience’ product is not an easy task. It usually requires keen interest — and a big nudge — from the OEM’s airline customers, which want to take delivery of new aircraft with their favored hardware installed at the factory, oftentimes to match what they’re... The post Intelsat linefit and SB wins see multi-orbit IFC come to E2, 787 appeared first on Runway Girl.

Apr 13, 2025 - 23:08

Intelsat linefit and SB wins see multi-orbit IFC come to E2, 787

HAMBURG — Securing linefit offerability at an airframer for a ‘passenger experience’ product is not an easy task. It usually requires keen interest — and a big nudge — from the OEM’s airline customers, which want to take delivery of new aircraft with their favored hardware installed at the factory, oftentimes to match what they’re already doing on the retrofit front.

And so, Embraer’s announcement at the Aircraft Interiors Expo that it will install Intelsat’s multi-orbit inflight connectivity solution on its E2 twinjets during aircraft production is a testament to the high volume of E-Jet customers already bringing the kit to their aircraft. Similarly, a separate revelation from Intelsat to Runway Girl Network that its Boeing linefit work has progressed — and that the airframer is now supporting Intelsat’s effort to bring the multi-orbit kit to the 787 via Service Bulletin — serves as a bellwether of what’s to come.

E2 Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE)

“Intelsat is the first multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity system with an electronically steered array (ESA) antenna to be installed at the Embraer factory, allowing passengers access to reliable, streaming connectivity starting immediately when aircraft enter revenue service,” said Intelsat director of OEM programs Rob Baird in a statement.

“Passengers on Embraer E2 aircraft will soon benefit from multi-orbit connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home, thanks to wide coverage and low latency.”

The terminal hardware is based on the Gilat/Stellar Blu ESA, with service powered by Intelsat’s Ku-band geostationary (GEO) satellite network and the Eutelsat OneWeb Ku-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) service, for which Intelsat is a distribution partner in aero.

In an interview with Runway Girl Network, Baird confided that Intelsat has been working with Embraer “for a few months now, obviously building off of the retrofit program” which sees Intelsat bringing the ESA-based solution to E1 E-Jets flown by Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines. The equipment will be installed line-fit by Embraer on E2 twinjets this year and the first airplanes will be operational “early in 2026”, he said.

Because Intelsat is securing its own supplemental type certificates (STCs) to retrofit the hardware to regional jet types in revenue service, including Embraer E1 twinjets such as the E175, “we’ve got our own STCs, of course, which we’re rolling out. So that’s our focus, to fulfill our customer base with STCs and then allow those customers to order potentially E2s through Embraer,” Baird said.

For its part, Embraer is touting the multi-orbit IFC system as being capable of delivering speeds of “up to 275 Mbps” and giving E2 passengers “a similar streaming and surfing experience to their home networks”.

Martyn Holmes, who serves as CCO of Embraer Commercial Aviation says: “Factory-installation of the Intelsat ESA is a good example of how we’re making it easier for our customers to offer an improved passenger experience as soon as the aircraft is delivered.

“Reliable, high-speed connectivity is a key opportunity to significantly improve passengers’ onboard experience — helping to keep airlines competitive and their passengers productive and entertained in-flight.”

Boeing 787 Service Bulletin

Meanwhile, Boeing is supporting Intelsat in its effort to bring the ESA-based solution to Boeing aircraft, including the 787, which has unique post-delivery retrofit requirements.

“As well as making good progress with the ESA through Boeing linefit, we’ve also been able to make progress with the retrofit market, the Boeing Global Services group. And so, they’re going to be supporting us with Service Bulletins on the 787,” Baird revealed to RGN.

“And so we are talking to our first customer. I don’t think that is announced yet, but we’re expecting to be able to sort of be open for business when it comes to Service Bulletins on the 787 delivering from the middle of next year, so really short timelines working with those retrofit SBs from Boeing.”

Due to the slimline nature of the ESA hardware, versus prior-generation antennas including Intelsat’s 2Ku solution, “they’ve found it easier to work with” on the 787, confided Baird.

They’ve created a new outside solution for us. And so, we’ve got that almost through the finishing line and like I say, first customer middle of next year. It’s a radome-free solution that they’ve developed for us.

Israeli firm Gilat is in tandem progressing through the multi-track linefit process at Boeing for its Stellar Blu ESA hardware. Panasonic Avionics will also benefit from this work, as it too is using the same hardware and working to secure Boeing linefit offerabity for its respective LEO/GEO network, which also features Eutelsat OneWeb LEO service. The IFE giant has announced Discover Airlines as a launch customer, with the kit coming to the German leisure carrier’s A330s starting this fall.

Intelsat confirms it is progressing in its work to gain formal BFE linefit offerability “across all major aircraft types” at Boeing, “and then Boeing supporting us with the 787 for STCs… We appreciate their support with that airframe and, you know, other STCs we can manage ourselves, but 787s, Boeing are going to help us with a Service Bulletin.”

Baird revealed that Intelsat is “looking to get offerability actually confirmed this year and then aircraft starting [delivery] from 2026. That’s our objective. It’s not 100% confirmed because you know Boeing have to confirm with their customers which aircraft and when they can have it installed.” Japan Airlines is the first announced linefit customer for 737 MAX aircraft, as announced at last year’s AIX, and is eyeing 2026 deliveries.

Intelsat’s 2Ku IFC solution is linefit offerable at Airbus as Buyer Furnished Equipment, and the firm has already been named a Ku-band managed service provider on Airbus’ groundbreaking linefit, supplier-furnished HBCplus inflight connectivity program. When SES completes its acquisition of Intelsat, the firm will have placement across the Ku and Ka-band sides of the program as SES is already an MSP in the latter.

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Featured image credited to Özkan Demir

The post Intelsat linefit and SB wins see multi-orbit IFC come to E2, 787 appeared first on Runway Girl.