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May 22nd, 2017

ViaSat Flying High with AirSatOne and Iceland Air Becoming Partners with the Company


ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) has disclosed that AirSatOne, a SATCOM service provider for aviation, has become a new reseller partner for the ViaSat in-flight Internet service to large-cabin, business aviation aircraft — AirSatOne will offer competitive airtime packages and provide support for aircraft operators.

ViaSat offers in-flight Internet products that enable business travelers to be more productive and entertained in the air; there's also a firm commitment to customer service as well as a mature, reliable network. AirSatOne will have immediate access to resell ViaSat's range of business aviation products that deliver coverage to more than 90 percent of the world's most popular flight paths, ensuring optimal user experiences over the most congested travel routes.

AirSatOne has a highly trained, experienced team that specializes in aviation SATCOM. The team will provide support to ViaSat customers 24/7 onsite at the customer's facilities, at the AirSatOne facilities located at the Spirit of Saint Louis Airport (SUS) in Chesterfield Missouri, or via phone. 

Jo Kremsreiter, president of AirSatOne, noted that ViaSat offers fast, reliable in-flight Internet services that enable passengers and crew to do more on board. AirSatOne will marry their innovative connectivity service with the company's expert support and work with MRO's and OEM's to successfully bring connectivity and new bandwidth-focused applications to the aircraft.

Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems at ViaSat, added, his company is  committed to providing travelers the ability and freedom to stay connected when in flight — on any aircraft, anywhere in the world. This partnership with AirSatOne will empower business jet passengers to have an enhanced travel experience where they have access to email, voice and texting as well as the Internet for streaming entertainment.

Additionally, Icelandair, in operation since 1937, will bring in-flight connectivity and Internet streaming service to passengers through a new partnership with ViaSat.

To deliver ultimate Internet experiences at 35,000 feet, Icelandair will tap into ViaSat-2, expected to be the most powerful, highest capacity satellite communications system at launch, and will leverage ViaSat's latest generation (Gen-2) in-flight Internet system. By using the latest advancements in ViaSat's in-flight internet portfolio, Icelandair will be able to offer full internet and streaming services at scale.

Icelandair will integrate ViaSat's in-flight Internet system across their fleet of 16 Boeing 737MAX aircraft through post-delivery modifications. ViaSat plans to deliver continuous, reliable high-speed connectivity from Icelandair's 18 North American gateways across the Atlantic Ocean to Iceland and more than 25 destinations in Europe. By using ViaSat's Gen-2 equipment, which is optimized to take full advantage of the highly-anticipated massive amounts of capacity offered by the ViaSat-2 satellite, Icelandair can offer passengers even faster and higher-quality in-flight internet connections, as well as keep pace with the growing broadband demands of the fully connected aircraft.   

Guðmundur Óskarsson, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Icelandair, stated that Icelandair continues to expand their global network with additional flights, aircraft and service capabilities across the Atlantic — the firm's investment in new technology, from ViaSat, will deliver one of the best internet experiences in the skies.

Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Mobility at ViaSat, added that this agreement is a watershed moment for ViaSat, as this is the first time an airline will use the company's technology to offer full Internet connectivity and streaming to passengers over the Atlantic Ocean.