Boeing and Virgin Atlantic Agree on Enhanced Connectivity for 787 Fleet

Boeing and Virgin Atlantic announced an agreement on October 15 during MRO Europe to upgrade in-flight connectivity on the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The partnership will introduce new hardware to enable high-speed, streaming-capable internet for passengers.

The move aims to address growing demand for reliable, fast onboard internet by leveraging recent advances in satellite and antenna technology. Virgin Atlantic expects the enhancements to deliver a more seamless online experience, including low-latency Wi-Fi suitable for streaming.

Under the agreement, Boeing will supply engineering expertise and hardware to retrofit the 787s with new aerodynamic antenna shrouds designed to house electronically steered array (ESA) antennas. These shrouds, known as Boeing Aerodynamic Shroud, support connectivity via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites as well as other satellite constellations.

“Partnering with Boeing to bring Starlink’s next-generation connectivity to our 787 fleet is another important step in creating a ‘home away from home’ experience for every customer,” said Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer, Virgin Atlantic.

The retrofits are expected to roll out across Virgin Atlantic’s 787 fleet following the completion of engineering and certification processes. The UK carrier has 17 787-9 Dreamliner in its fleet.

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