Emirates is putting the proverbial pedal to the metal in its bid to bring broadband inflight connectivity to its Airbus A380 fleet.

During the Dubai Airshow earlier this month, Airbus announced that Emirates will retrofit 60 A380s with the airframer’s new HBCplus supplier-furnished Ka-band satellite-based inflight connectivity (IFC) solution. Now, Emirates tells Runway Girl Network that it wants to get its hands on the broadband kit sooner rather than later.

“We are eager to enhance the onboard Internet experience for our passengers, and are working with Airbus to expedite these retrofits as soon as possible,” reveals an Emirates spokesperson.

The decision certainly makes sense, as many of the carrier’s A380s sport a lower-bandwidth connectivity service that is conducive to cockpit communications, safety services and flight tracking, but less adept at powering high-speed Internet on passengers’ devices.

Moreover, this spring Emirates announced that Emirates Skywards loyalty members in every class of travel can now enjoy some form of free connectivity. All can avail of free messaging regardless of loyalty tier or cabin class, whilst first class Skywards members plus Silver, Gold and Platinum members flying in business class can freely browse the Internet. A broader pipe to the A380s will heighten Emirates’ chances of delighting rather than frustrating these latter passengers.

Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI), which is the terminal provider and integrator to Airbus on both the Ka-band and Ku-band sides of the novel HBCplus programme is providing its ThinKom Solutions Ka2517 VICTS-based terminal for the 60 Emirates A380s that are in line for the IFC retrofits. The service is powered by the Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band satellite constellation operated by Viasat London (formerly Inmarsat).

Elsewhere, Viasat London’s GX service will also power connectivity on board Emirates’ incoming new Airbus A350-900s, as the carrier this year signed on as launch customer of the linefit version of HBCplus. As such, the solution will be fitted at the factory on these widebodies. The first fitted A350 will arrive in 2024.

Separately, Emirates has selected SPI’s ThinKom Ka2517-based terminal, branded as RAVE AeroConnect, for 50 new 777-9s from its 205 orders for the Boeing 777X, with the airline confirming to RGN that these 50 aircraft will also support Viasat London’s GX service. Though obviously not part of Airbus’ HBCplus programme, the IFC for these 777-9s is “multi-orbit” and capable of operating across multiple providers, notes a SPI spokeswoman.

Bringing passenger-pleasing broadband connectivity to Emirates’ A380s is important. The carrier says it currently operates close to 90 A380s, with more slated to enter active service in the coming months. And it’s eager to continue flying these double-decker birds well into the future.

But Emirates is also doubling down on its investments to maintain and improve the operational efficiency of the superjumbos, inking deals worth over $1.5 billion on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow for A380 aviation aftermarket and MRO services.

The airline said it will “leverage, at scale, the expertise and capabilities” of partners including Honeywell for wheels and carbon brakes, Collins Aerospace for main landing gear overhauls, Pratt & Whitney for maintenance and support of the A380’s PW980 Auxiliary Power Units, Safran Landing Systems for exclusive services covering A380 nose landing gear, and Lufthansa Technik for Base Maintenance Services and additional C Checks for the aircraft in the next three years.

Emirates has also extended an agreement with OEMServices for ongoing component support for its A380s including the supply of spare parts, repair services and engineering support. And it inked a deal with Guangzhou, China-based Gameco and Xiamen, China-based HAECO for A380 C Checks starting in January and February 2024, respectively.

Many airlines opt to install inflight connectivity during C Checks so it will be interesting to see if Airbus and SPI are working to expedite delivery of the HBCplus kit in time for these heavy maintenance events.