Wi-Fi successfully tested for Air New Zealand domestic flights

Wi-Fi on domestic Air New Zealand flights is one step closer after successful test flights using Starlink on an ATR aircraft.

In a statement, aircraft manufacturer ATR said the tests were carried out on a 72-600 test aircraft in the past months, and the solution has been approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Air New Zealand has previously said it hoped to launch Wi-Fi on domestic flights in 2025, after first announcing the change in 2023.

New Zealand's national carrier is poised to be the launch customer of the technology. Soon after, ATR operators worldwide would be able to provide passengers with a similar service.

Air New Zealand chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar said exploring in-motion connectivity with the latest technology such as Starlink was a "no brainer".

"Whether travelling for work or leisure, we know maintaining seamless internet connectivity is something that will transform the travel experience for customers. We can’t wait to bring connectivity to our domestic flights. Collaborating with ATR and the PMV Engineering team has been fantastic, and their expertise has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life."

Outside of passengers being able to connect to Wi-Fi, ATR said the system would also allow pilots to connect to aviation weather services, "enhancing flight safety" through "more informed decision-making".

"Moreover, the compact size of the antenna makes it perfectly suited to the ATR platform in terms of aerodynamics," ATR said.

Air New Zealand said after an initial trial, it would look to roll out Starlink internet on other aircraft in its domestic fleet.