Thai Airways has announced a new partnership with Neo Space Group (NSG) to equip its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with NSG Skywaves®, an advanced in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution. The deployment will be line-fitted on all 34 new Boeing 787 aircraft, ensuring that each aircraft arrives with full broadband capabilities from the moment it begins service. This move consolidates and extends their existing collaboration, which started in 2024 with the retrofit of Boeing 777 aircraft.
The agreement allows Thai Airways to offer passengers high-speed Wi-Fi, supporting speeds of up to 200 Mbps, and ensures operational efficiencies across their fleet. By opting for factory line-fit installation, the airline avoids the costs and delays associated with retrofitting after delivery. The partnership also includes plans for installing NSG Skywaves® on Airbus A321neo aircraft through the Airbus HBCplus program, with the first expected to enter service in late 2026.
Strategic Impact and Remarks
Wirush Theparak, Head of Customer Experience at Thai Airways, emphasized that enhancing the inflight digital experience is central to their strategy. He stated, “Partnering with Neo Space Group on a line-fit IFC solution will offer passengers seamless, high-speed connectivity from the start of each flight.”
“This initiative ensures we deliver a world-class digital experience while strengthening our operational capabilities,”
- Wirush Theparak
Further, Tarek El Mitwalli, EVP Business Aviation at NSG, expressed pride in Thai Airways being the launch customer for this capability on the aircraft platform. He highlighted the benefit of multi-orbit connectivity over Asia, providing reliable services over India and China, and underscored NSG's broader strategy of global growth and innovation in IFC solutions. The system leverages SES’s Open Orbits™ network, combining MEO and GEO satellites for optimal performance, and utilizes the proven ThinKom Ka2517 antenna, deployed on over 1,700 aircraft worldwide.
Overall, this development demonstrates NSG’s position as a leading provider of next-generation connectivity services and highlights Thai Airways’ commitment to enhancing their passenger experience through digital transformation. Additionally, it reinforces NSG’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by delivering innovative digital infrastructure solutions for the aviation industry.
