Air Astana begins equipping A321LR fleet with satellite Wi-Fi

Photo: Air Astana

Kazakhstan flag carrier Air Astana has commenced retrofitting its narrowbody Airbus A321LR fleet with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi. The connectivity service is provided by Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, with equipment installation performed in-house at the airline’s maintenance base.

An Airbus A321LR registered as EI-KGB has become the first aircraft fitted with the high-speed Wi-Fi system. Its first flight with onboard internet took place on October 29, 2026, on the Almaty–Tashkent route.

The phase-in of high-speed Wi-Fi across the Airbus A321LR fleet will continue through 2027. Air Astana currently operates 15 aircraft of the type, the latest delivered earlier this month.

Some of these aircraft are fitted with additional center tanks, allowing them to be deployed on long-haul routes in lieu of widebody aircraft. In November, the airline will launch A321LR flights on the Almaty–Tokyo route, which was originally intended to be served by Boeing 787 widebodies.

Previously, Air Astana offered broadband connectivity exclusively on its three long-haul Boeing 767-300 widebodies via British satellite operator Inmarsat. The Kazakh carrier plans to retire these aircraft in 2027 as modern Boeing 787-9s begin entering its fleet.