Interview
Inmarsat: The future of aircraft connectivity Interview with Neale Faulkner, Inmarsat Aviation Regional Vice President Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA)
Tell us about your organization, in particular the services you provide to the Aviation Sector? Inmarsat Aviation is the leading provider of global satellite communications to airline and business aviation markets across the world. With 30 years’ of specialist aviation experience, we offer a range of powerful connectivity solutions, from vital operations and safety communications for pilots and crew, through to reliable, high-speed inflight broadband for passengers. Our solutions are renowned for their innovation and performance. The awardwinning GX Aviation, for example, has set the industry benchmark for passenger inflight broadband, allowing users to stream, browse, game, shop and more, using their own personal devices whilst travelling on a flight.
passenger experience. Today, we provide inflight connectivity services to many of the world’s leading airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Kuwait Airways, AirAsia, Air New Zealand and Lufthansa, in addition to thousands of business jets throughout the world. Our aircraft safety and operations services are also trusted by over 200 airlines and are used onboard more than 13,000 aircraft around the world.
ho are your target customers in the W Aviation Sector?
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MEABUSINESS
here is your biggest opportunity for W growth in the Aviation Sector? In terms of regions, the Middle East is a major area of growth. The Middle East is not exactly a new adopter of inflight connectivity, in fact, the region has acted as a trend setter for the inflight connectivity during its infancy some ten years ago. But with the next generation of satellites and related technology, airlines in the region are ready to “upgrade” the experience for their passengers.
We’ve been named the ‘World’s Leading Inflight Internet Service Provider’ for four consecutive years at the World Travel Awards and for specifically to the Middle East, we were also named ‘Satellite Network Provider of the Year’ at the Aviation Achievement Awards 2021 in Dubai.
Over the past decade, airlines and business jet operators have recognised how fundamental high-speed and reliable connectivity is to enhance their
This means that we process tens of thousands of aircraft position reports in a single day and over 50 million position reports annually. These services also maximise operational efficiencies in a number of different ways, from optimising flight planning and reducing fuel burn to minimising risk and avoiding unscheduled maintenance, making aviation safer, more efficient and less expensive.
N eale Faulkner, Inmarsat Aviation Regional Vice Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) President
Business News for the MEA region
Our Passenger Confidence Tracker - which is the largest global survey of airline passengers since the pandemic began - found the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated digital appetite in the region more so than elsewhere in the world. Half (50%) of UAE passengers agreed that onboard Wi-Fi matters more today than ever before, compared with 39% globally. This shift in passenger behaviour will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect on carriers in the region.
