IFEC REPORT
Qsuite’s movable panels allow passengers to transform their space into a fully connected area for work, dining and socializing at 40,000 feet
Connecting above the
clouds Qatar Airways is the first airline in the Middle East to select Gogo 2Ku for its inflight connectivity system by SABRINA PIRILLO
20 | PAX TECH | FEBRUARY 2020
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atar Airways is equipping a substantial portion of its fleet with 2Ku high-speed inflight connectivity by Gogo. Broadband connectivity and live TV, both from Chicago-based Gogo, will be installed on 70 aircraft, including the 787-9, 787-8 and A380 as part of a contract signed by Qatar Airways and Gogo in November. The 2Ku product is designed and developed to deliver a ground-like internet experience for passengers. “Having access to the Internet, and being connected and available, is critical for passengers,” said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, at the time of the announcement. “The demand for bandwidth will only increase and we are proud to be able to provide our customers with an excellent connectivity experience with Gogo 2Ku.” In February 2017, Gogo 2Ku technology hit a performancehigh of 100 megabytes per second during a test flight, and since then the capability has been installed on more than 600 aircraft flying to more than 80 countries with a backlog of 1,400 aircraft. Other Gogo 2Ku partners include Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Japan Transocean Air, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. “We are thrilled to partner with Qatar Airways to bring their guests a new inflight connectivity experience with 2Ku,” said Oakleigh Thorne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gogo. “Qatar Airways continues to set the industry benchmark for customer experience, winning the
