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Hawaiian Airlines has announced that the installation of SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation inflight connectivity system on its transpacific fleet has been delayed until early 2024. The airline’s Airbus A321neo twinjets are expected to be the first to have the system installed.

According to a spokesperson from Hawaiian Airlines, the installation of Starlink Wi-Fi on their A321neo fleet has been rescheduled to the beginning of 2024. The Starlink team is currently working on the certification and modification kits for the A321 and A330 aircraft, which will be the first of each fleet type to be equipped with the system.

Earlier this year, Hawaiian Airlines revealed its plan to fit its A321neos, A330s, and incoming Boeing 787-9s with Starlink Aviation IFC hardware in order to provide passengers with fast, seamless, and free Wi-Fi onboard. The installations were originally scheduled to begin in 2022, but have now been pushed back to 2024. It is important to note that the airline’s Boeing 717s will not be included in the equipage.

SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation service utilizes a low-profile electronically steerable antenna. The company is currently seeking Starlink Aviation certification engineers in California and Washington to ensure compliance with FAA regulations and to improve the certification process for future applications.

Aside from Hawaiian Airlines, other Starlink Aviation customers include airBaltic, Zipair Tokyo, and JSX. JSX has already fitted its entire Embraer ERJ fleet with the system, which has received positive reviews from passengers.

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