SES and LATAM Deepen Alliance, Raising Bar for Inflight Connectivity

LUXEMBOURG – July 29, 2026 – In a significant move set to reshape the passenger experience in the skies over the Americas, space solutions leader SES has expanded its long-standing partnership with LATAM Airlines. The deal will see SES equip more than 60 of LATAM’s new Airbus and Embraer aircraft with its advanced multi-orbit inflight connectivity service, signaling a deep investment in next-generation technology for one of the region's most dominant carriers.

The agreement builds on a nearly decade-long collaboration that has already made LATAM the operator of the largest SES-connected fleet in Latin America, with over 250 aircraft currently offering Wi-Fi. This new phase targets the airline's growing fleet of Airbus A320NEO, A321XLR, and Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, the workhorses of regional and medium-haul travel. For passengers, the promise is a radical upgrade from the often-frustrating inflight internet of the past.

“At LATAM, we are committed to making every journey more connected,” said Paulo Miranda, Vice President of Customers at LATAM Airlines Group. “By bringing next-generation multi-orbit connectivity to more of our fleet, we will offer our passengers a faster, more reliable onboard internet experience, helping them stay connected wherever they fly while continuing to raise the standard of travel across Latin America.”

A Technological Leap in the Skies

The core of this strategic upgrade lies in SES’s sophisticated multi-orbit network and a groundbreaking piece of hardware: a new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna. This combination is designed to vanquish the traditional pain points of inflight Wi-Fi—spotty coverage, sluggish speeds, and high latency—by creating a seamless, resilient connection from gate to gate.

Unlike single-orbit systems that rely exclusively on distant geostationary (GEO) satellites, SES’s multi-orbit solution intelligently blends the broad coverage of its GEO satellites with the high-throughput, low-latency capabilities of its Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation, known as O3b mPOWER. This MEO network, which became fully operational in 2024, orbits closer to the Earth, drastically reducing the time it takes for data to travel to and from the aircraft. The system can dynamically switch between these orbital layers, ensuring the aircraft is always connected to the best possible satellite beam.

This technological agility is enabled by the new ESA antenna. Measuring less than seven centimeters in height, its sleek, low-profile design reduces aerodynamic drag, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. More importantly, it contains no mechanical moving parts. Traditional gimbaled antennas must physically pivot to track satellites, making them susceptible to wear and slower to switch between beams. The ESA, by contrast, steers its beam electronically, allowing for instantaneous handovers between satellites in different orbits. This ensures an uninterrupted connection, even when flying over oceans or remote landmasses. The result is an onboard internet experience that mirrors what passengers are accustomed to at home or in the office, capable of supporting everything from high-definition video streaming and video calls to secure VPN access for business travelers.

Solidifying Market Leadership Amidst Fierce Competition

For SES, this expanded agreement with LATAM is more than just a contract renewal; it's a powerful statement of market leadership in the highly competitive inflight connectivity (IFC) sector. The deal solidifies the company’s position as a premier provider in the Americas, a status significantly bolstered by its recent acquisition of rival Intelsat. The merger created a satellite behemoth with a combined fleet of over 100 satellites and a deep backlog of contracts.

“SES is a trusted partner that powers inflight connectivity,” noted Mike DeMarco, SES President of Mobility, highlighting the strength of the long-term relationship. This trust is crucial in a market where airlines are making multi-year, multi-million dollar decisions.

The Latin American aviation market is a particularly dynamic battleground for connectivity providers. Viasat has a strong presence, especially in Brazil, and recently secured a contract with LATAM to equip its widebody aircraft for long-haul routes. This indicates LATAM is pursuing a calculated multi-vendor strategy, selecting different partners for different fleet segments. Furthermore, the market was recently electrified by the entry of SpaceX’s Starlink, with Panama's Copa Airlines becoming the first in the region to adopt its low-latency LEO service. This has intensified the pressure on incumbent providers to demonstrate clear technological advantages. SES's multi-orbit solution, which combines the benefits of different satellite layers, is its strategic answer to this new competitive reality. By securing the narrow-body fleet—the backbone of LATAM’s regional network—SES has defended a critical piece of its market share.

Redefining the Passenger Journey Across Latin America

LATAM's investment goes beyond technology; it's a core component of its strategy to elevate the passenger experience and differentiate itself in a crowded market. As high-speed internet becomes a standard expectation rather than a luxury amenity, airlines are recognizing that robust connectivity is a key driver of customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The ability to offer seamless streaming, uninterrupted work sessions, and constant contact with the ground is no longer a perk for a select few but a baseline requirement for many travelers. Research shows a significant portion of passengers are willing to pay for reliable Wi-Fi, creating a valuable ancillary revenue stream for airlines. Moreover, industry analysts note that high-quality connectivity is increasingly integrated into loyalty programs, with airlines offering complimentary access to frequent flyers and premium cabin passengers to foster long-term engagement.

This upgrade places LATAM at the forefront of a regional trend where carriers are investing heavily to enhance the onboard experience. As passenger traffic in South America continues to rebound and grow, competition is not just about routes and prices but about the quality of the journey itself. By ensuring its passengers can stay as connected in the air as they are on the ground, LATAM is betting that a superior digital experience will translate into a stronger brand and greater customer loyalty.

The Strategic Calculus of Fleet-Wide Connectivity

The focus of this deal on narrow-body aircraft like the Airbus A320NEO and Embraer E195-E2 is particularly telling. These aircraft are the foundation of domestic and regional travel in Latin America, serving a high volume of passengers on short- and medium-haul flights. Equipping this segment of the fleet with premium connectivity acknowledges that the demand for constant internet access is not limited to long-haul international travelers.

This strategic decision reflects a broader industry shift. Inflight connectivity is rapidly evolving from an optional add-on to an integral part of an airline’s service offering. While the financial specifics of the SES-LATAM agreement were not disclosed, the scale of the deployment across more than 60 new aircraft represents a substantial, long-term commitment. It underscores the understanding that in today's digital world, the passenger journey begins and ends with connectivity, and the airlines that fail to invest in this critical infrastructure risk being left behind. The partnership ensures that as LATAM modernizes its fleet, its onboard digital capabilities will not just keep pace but set a new benchmark for air travel in the region.