The airline told CNBC it plans to give passengers free internet on flights from the Starlink satellite network.
The deal is the first for Musk's space company. The Starlink network of about 2,000 satellites is designed to deliver high-speed internet to consumers and businesses anywhere on the planet.
Hawaiian's plan for complimentary internet with Starlink could increase pressure on other airlines to offer free internet for travelers. Delta Air Lines wants to offer high-speed, complimentary, high-speed wi-fi on its planes. It was tested on some flights.
The installation of Starlink on Hawaiian planes is expected to start next year. There are certification issues that need to be worked through before Hawaiian can begin testing Starlink on an aircraft.
The financial details of the deal were not disclosed by the airline.
Hawaiian doesn't currently offer inflight wi-fi and has an extensive network of flights over the Pacific Ocean, serving the mainland U.S., Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Starlink will be offered on its flights out of its home state to cities throughout the mainland U.S. and to international destinations.
We have looked at our market and not seen many great options over the Pacific. The options have improved over time, but we have waited until there was a product offering.
Hawaiian had 24 A330s and 18 A321s at the end of the year. It plans to outfit its new planes with Starlink. The 717s used for flying are not included in the deal.
The kinds of performance that they have been talking about and have demonstrated have been very impressive.
Hawaiian Airlines is ensuring its passengers will experience high-speed internet the way we expect it in the 21st century, according to a news release from Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of Starlink commercial sales at SpaceX.
The executive at Hawaiian said that the goals for Starlink are that service should be.
The company said it was in contact with several airlines to provide inflight service.
Last week, the first carrier to do so was Starlink, a semi-private charter flights provider. Starlink subscribers include both consumers and enterprise customers. Users pay $110 a month for the standard service and $500 a month for the premium tier.
After the market closes on Tuesday, Hawaiian is scheduled to report its quarterly results.
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