Opul Jets, a private charter flight operator, has announced the integration of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite connectivity system across its fleet, promising to elevate the onboard digital experience with impressive download speeds between 40 and 220 Mbps and upload speeds ranging from 8 to 25 Mbps. The system also boasts a latency under 99 milliseconds, setting a new standard in aerial connectivity.
The initial installation of the Starlink platform has been completed on a 16-seat Global Express XRS, part of the operator’s exclusively Bombardier fleet. The installation, handled during routine maintenance checks by ACC Columbia in Germany and assisted by SpaceX subsidiary Starlink Aviation, involves an antenna, a power supply unit, and two wireless access points. The work was done under a supplemental type certificate from Nextant Aerospace.
Opul Jets operates from strategic locations including London Biggin Hill Airport, Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man, Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, and Mumbai, India. Their operations are managed under air operator certificates from UK-based SaxonAir Charter and Malta’s Av8Jet Charter.
In an effort to enhance its European market access post-Brexit, Opul Jets CEO, Harry Ackerman, has disclosed ongoing efforts to acquire an air operator certificate holder in an EASA state. “This move would allow us to base aircraft throughout Europe and also have access to locally licensed aircrew,” Ackerman stated. The company is also in the process of acquiring and upgrading the Jet Centre FBO on the Isle of Man.
Tomás Camprubí, managing director of Luna Jets’ UK division, highlighted the critical role of high-bandwidth connectivity as a competitive edge for charter operators. He remarked on the affordability brought by new technology: “The cost of installation and service provision has been reduced significantly with the entry of alternatives to geostationary orbit Ka-band systems, such as the low-earth-orbit Starlink.” The Starlink system costs $150,000, not including installation fees, with service plans ranging from a 20 GB monthly package for $2,000 (plus $100 per additional GB) to a global unlimited plan for $10,000 per month.
Despite a generally flat demand for flights this year, Camprubí remains optimistic about the upcoming summer, noting a 20 percent increase in forward bookings. “Thirty percent of our clients own their own aircraft and come to us for additional travel needs,” he added, underscoring the nuanced dynamics of the luxury travel market.