Discover Airlines recently announced that it will be introducing free and unlimited messaging on long-haul flights from the summer (expected in June). Now there will be another highlight in terms of connectivity for guests of the leisure airline: from autumn 2025, Discover Airlines will be the first airline in the Lufthansa Group and one of the first in the world to gradually install the Panasonic Avionics Wi-Fi system on its long-haul aircraft. The new technology will enable guests to surf the internet and stream content during the flight at high speeds of up to 200 Mbit per second, similar to the 5G network on the ground.
Additional satellites enable fast and reliable internet
The new Panasonic system combines the connectivity of geostationary (GEO) satellites, which are already used in aviation today, with the LEO (Low Earth Orbit) network from Eutelsat OneWeb. LEO satellites not only offer higher internet speeds, but also significantly lower latency. Both significantly improve connectivity during the flight.
“The introduction of this new technology is a major step towards an even more digitalized flight experience and is a real upgrade for our guests. In the future, this will also open up opportunities to further personalize the entertainment program and the service on board. We are delighted to be one of the first airlines to use this new technology,” says Bernd Bauer, Chief Executive Officer of Discover Airlines.
“We are proud to partner with Discover Airlines as one of the first multi-orbit customers, enabling them to deliver an exceptional connected experience to the passengers on their A330 fleet. Our multi-orbit network has been meticulously tested and, coupled with Panasonic Avionics’ proven track record and rigorous structure, we are confident it will be a popular choice for airlines going forward,” says John Wade, Vice President of Connectivity at Panasonic Avionics.
Already today: Internet on board with Discover Airlines FlyNet®
The messaging service will be available to guests free of charge and unlimited. In future, there will be various packages for using the high-speed internet, which travelers can purchase in advance or on board. The exact pricing is still being worked out, but will be in line with the current Discover Airlines FlyNet® offer. The in-flight internet already available today is similar to that offered by Lufthansa; packages already purchased can be used on both airlines.
