AJet Boeing 737 MAX gets fitted with connectivity from TCI

Turkish low-cost airline AJet has started rolling out TCI Aircraft Interiors’ multi-orbit capable Ka-band inflight connectivity system on its aircraft.

A Boeing 737 MAX 8, bearing tail number TC-LAJ, has become “the first aircraft to be equipped with TCI Aircraft Interiors’ inflight connectivity service,” says TCI — the entity that emerged from the 2023 merger of TCI Cabin Interior, TSI Seats and Cornea, and which is closely aligned with Turkish Airlines.

“With this important achievement, we are proud to be taking a significant step forward in inflight connectivity technologies,” TCI says in a statement published on LinkedIn.

This year, during the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, TCI announced an agreement with Hughes Network Systems and longtime Hughes partner Turksat to bring IFC to over 120 aircraft in AJet’s fleet — a provisioning that covers both the carrier’s current Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and future growth.

Under the arrangement, Hughes is providing IFC equipment, including a multi-orbit capable terminal based on ThinKom Solutions’ Ka2517 VICTS antenna and Kontron hardware, as well as its own advanced IFC management capabilities. Ka-band satcom service will be powered by state-owned Turksat, which primarily operates a fleet of geostationary satellites.

Of note: the Ka2517 terminal in standalone form is multi-orbit-capable. For example, it is already powering MEO/GEO-based IFC service for SES customers.

Airlines that adopt Ka2517 today will have the option of adding a layer of Telesat’s Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) service in support of LEO/GEO connectivity when Lightspeed arrives on the scene.

AJet currently operates 95 aircraft to 99 destinations across Europe and the Middle East from its base at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Formerly known as AnadoluJet, the carrier is not yet advertising inflight Wi-Fi to passengers. And it appears that its freshly fitted 737 MAX has not yet re-entered service.

The IFC retrofit project represents a milestone for TCI, which also offers aircraft seats and IFE in its product portfolio.

“At TCI Aircraft Interiors, we continue to create value by bringing advanced cabin digital solutions into operational aircraft, combining technology, engineering excellence, and strong partnerships,” says the firm. “The journey reflects our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-performance connectivity solutions.”

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Featured image credited to TCI Aircraft Interiors