Air Astana to Expand Satellite Internet Across Its Fleet Starting in 2026
Kazakhstan’s flag carrier Air Astana plans to roll out satellite-based internet access more broadly across its fleet starting in 2026.
Speaking at a Kazakh government meeting, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Zhaslan Madiyev stated that three satellite internet operators are currently active in the country, and that two foreign companies are expected to enter the market in the coming period through pilot projects.
Air Astana first introduced onboard broadband internet service in 2018 on three Boeing 767-300 widebody aircraft in its fleet. The service is provided using the infrastructure of UK-based satellite communications company Inmarsat. At present, the implementation remains limited to a small number of long-haul aircraft.
The airline plans to gradually retire its Boeing 767 aircraft starting in 2026 and replace them with newer-generation Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Along with this transition, the satellite internet service is expected to be extended across a wider fleet and route network.
Air Astana’s investment in satellite-connected internet is regarded as one of the significant steps toward digitalization and the enhancement of passenger experience in the Central Asian civil aviation market.
