Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new premium international airline, today announced it has selected Viasat Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, to provide a full, fast, free in-flight connectivity for all Riyadh Air loyalty members on initial Boeing 787 Dreamliner factory-installed deliveries.

Powered by Viasat’s most advanced, multi-orbit-ready satellite network, Riyadh Air loyalty members will enjoy seamless, free onboard streaming, social scrolling, web browsing, and gaming, available from gate to gate (where permitted). Guests who are not loyalty members will have the option to sign up onboard the aircraft with a short sign-up process and get online instantly.

The service includes access to streaming subscriptions on guests’ own personal devices, which 71% of passengers recently surveyed* report as a priority activity while connected in-flight. Furthermore, Viasat’s network will enable Live TV on the aircraft’s seatback screens, providing a variety of news and sports channels for guests’ enjoyment. The fully integrated Wi-Fi solution will also power Riyadh Air’s world class apps, seatback screens, and digital channels, all designed to transform the travel industry with hyper-personalization.

“At Riyadh Air, we are committed to redefining the guest experience through innovation and technology,” said Anton Vidgen, VP Guest Experience at Riyadh Air. “Partnering with Viasat, we were empowered to realize our discerning vision for guests’ connectivity. In turn, our guests will enjoy free, personalized, and seamless Wi-Fi that will fully integrate with the full Riyadh Air experience. This partnership is a key enabler of our digitally native onboard strategy: setting a new standard for premium travel.”

Meherwan Polad, Chief Commercial Officer, Viasat Commercial Services, added,

“Riyadh Air’s vision to create a digitally native, guest-centric airline aligns perfectly with Viasat’s mission to connect the world. We are proud to be selected as Riyadh Air’s launch connectivity partner, providing our most advanced Ka-band technology to power their comprehensive onboard experience across all routes they operate. Viasat’s unique ability to deliver the consistent, high-quality connectivity that Riyadh Air’s guests demand will be transformative for the Middle Eastern commercial air travel landscape.”

Riyadh Air’s selection of Viasat underscores its commitment to providing a best-in-class digital experience for its guests. With Viasat’s leading Ka-band satellite technology and multi-orbit solution capabilities, Riyadh Air will possess the flexibility to leverage future satellite technologies and be well positioned to meet the highly concentrated bandwidth and connectivity demand that continue to grow within commercial flights. As such, Riyadh Air is assured to remain at the forefront of in-flight connectivity innovation for years to come.