Inflight Wi-Fi is expanding to numerous routes in Hawaii

Travelers can now stay connected to the internet on many more flights to Hawaii.

This enhancement is made possible by Viasat's third-generation F1 satellite, which was activated for commercial use on Monday. One of the significant upgrades with this new satellite is the long-awaited coverage for routes traveling from the mainland to Hawaii.

From now on, any Viasat-equipped aircraft flying from the mainland to Hawaii will have access to satellite signals and internet connectivity.

Previously, passengers on planes equipped with Viasat antennas were unable to connect to the internet once they left the coverage area above the continental U.S.

For some travelers, this limitation has driven them to choose airlines that offer internet providers with global coverage, like Panasonic. However, in the U.S., Panasonic's internet service is primarily available on long-haul, wide-body jets operated by American Airlines and United Airlines.

While these airlines occasionally use twin-aisle jets on select high-profile Hawaii routes, most mainland U.S. to Hawaii routes are served by single-aisle planes that do not include Panasonic service.

Indeed, American, Delta Air Lines, United, and Southwest Airlines all operate flights to Hawaii using jets equipped with Viasat antennas that previously had no internet connectivity on those routes.

The new Viasat satellite underwent testing during the first half of the year, and the provider seemed satisfied with the outcomes, leading to the activation of the enhanced service.

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Although Viasat has been discussing the third-generation satellite for quite some time, last year's launch of ViaSat-3 faced significant technical challenges during the satellites' deployment into orbit.

Initially, Viasat was uncertain about the feasibility of salvaging the new satellites, but the company stated:

"Thorough in-orbit testing showed that all other systems on the satellite were functioning at or above expectations. Although the antenna deployment issue led to a notable decrease in overall capacity, the resilience and high-performance standards of the ViaSat-3 satellite system still enable it to provide high-speed broadband services for aviation customers across North America, where the satellite is active."

At the end of this article, you’ll find a detailed overview of mainland-to-Hawaii flights categorized by internet provider. Keep in mind that aircraft substitutions may occur, and this information is based on Cirium schedules for flights set for August 2024.

If staying connected is essential, it's advisable to verify with your airline prior to your flight to confirm that your aircraft provides connectivity over Hawaii.

Looking ahead, United will be the only airline that does not offer Wi-Fi on all its Hawaii routes, as some of its aircraft are still equipped with Thales satellites that operate solely over the continental U.S.

It's important to note that Hawaiian Airlines is currently in the process of installing free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi throughout its fleet, which will be available on all routes to the U.S. These upgrades are anticipated to be finished by the end of the year.

Internet providers on US-to-Hawaii routes