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Satellite operator, SES, has been selected by LATAM Airlines to provide multi-orbit inflight connectivity across the carrier’s growing fleet of Airbus and Embraer aircraft.
More than 60 aircraft – spanning the Airbus A320NEO, A321XLR and Embraer E195-E2 – will be equipped with SES services in the coming years. The deal makes LATAM the largest airline in Latin America to offer service using SES’s new electronically steered array antenna, which measures less than seven centimetres tall and connects to satellites in different orbits to provide coverage regardless of location.
Decade-Long Partnership Extends
The agreement builds on a relationship between SES and LATAM that stretches back nearly a decade. LATAM already operates the largest SES-connected fleet in the region, with more than 250 aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi. That includes 2Ku service across more than 200 A320 family aircraft.
The new deal extends the partnership to newer aircraft types in LATAM’s fleet, adding multi-orbit connectivity that draws on satellites in different orbital positions to maintain consistent service.
SES President of Mobility, Mike DeMarco, commented: “LATAM’s passengers will soon benefit from reliable, multi-orbit satellite connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home no matter where or when they fly.”
“SES’s partnerships with airlines like LATAM highlight how carriers throughout the Americas are leading the way when it comes to connectivity. SES is a trusted partner that powers inflight connectivity.”
LATAM’s Connected Travel Push
LATAM frames the deal as part of a broader effort to improve the onboard passenger experience across its network.
Vice President of Customers at LATAM Airlines Group, Paulo Miranda, remarked: “At LATAM, we are committed to making every journey more connected. By bringing next-generation multi-orbit connectivity to more of our fleet, we will offer our passengers a faster, more reliable onboard internet experience, helping them stay connected wherever they fly while continuing to raise the standard of travel across Latin America.”
How Multi-Orbit Connectivity Works
The multi-orbit approach combines connectivity from satellites operating in different orbital positions. Rather than relying on a single layer of satellite coverage, the system draws on multiple orbits to reduce the gaps in service that can occur on long-haul or overwater routes.
The ESA antenna is a flat-panel design that steers its beam electronically rather than mechanically, allowing it to track satellites across the sky without moving parts. At less than seven centimetres in height, the antenna adds minimal drag to the aircraft – a consideration for airlines looking to balance connectivity investment against fuel efficiency.
For LATAM, which operates across a network spanning South America and connecting to North America, Europe and Oceania, consistent coverage over remote and oceanic segments is a practical requirement. Multi-orbit service is designed to address that by maintaining connectivity where single-orbit systems may drop off.
Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Nick Ross
