Honeywell signed a $2.8 billion agreement with Inmarsat to provide global in-flight connectivity services for global business, commercial, and government aviation customers using Inmarsat’s Global Xpress, Ka-Band network, scheduled to launch in 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, Honeywell will develop, produce, and distribute the onboard hardware that will enable users to connect to the Global Xpress network.
"With this new service, the flow of information will no longer stop when the door to the aircraft closes," said Tim Mahoney, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace. "Honeywell identified global aircraft connectivity as a future growth trend, and through the combination of the recently acquired EMS Technologies, Inc.’s broad technology offerings and Honeywell’s global aerospace franchise, the company is the perfect partner to launch the Inmarsat Global Xpress aerospace network. We believe this new network will significantly expand the connectivity options of consumer, business, and government customers around the world."
"Global Xpress will be the world’s first global Ka-band service for aviation customers and will raise the bar for in-flight connectivity," said Leo Mondale, Managing Director, Global Xpress, Inmarsat. "Honeywell is the most qualified and credible technology partner in their field, and has put forward a superb technical solution for the Global Xpress aviation user terminal. Building on its truly global presence, which today supports a broad portfolio of aviation products and services, Honeywell will offer world class customer service, support, and maintenance for the Global Xpress connectivity products worldwide."
Honeywell has signified in-flight connectivity to be a growth market for the company. Last year, the company paid $491 million to acquire EMS Technologies, the parent company of EMS Aviation. More
"Passengers worldwide are hungering for better connectivity and more expanded services during flights, driven in part by the explosion of tablet devices," said Carl Esposito, Vice President, Marketing and Product Management, Honeywell Aerospace. "Airlines are taking notice of this development and placing a higher value on passenger connectivity as a way to add value and differentiate their services."