Airlines worldwide are increasingly adopting in-flight internet services, but one carrier is taking a different path. Earlier this year, flyDubai decided to deactivate its satellite-based services on board, a move confirmed through various channels without providing an explanation.
This decision coincided with flyDubai’s efforts to retrofit its older 737-800 aircraft with new seats and an updated in-flight entertainment system featuring Recaro seats equipped with Safran Passenger Innovations’ RAVE 4K Ultra screens.
As of January 2024, mentions of in-flight connectivity have vanished from the flyDubai website, marking a setback for Anuvu, the service provider for flyDubai since 2016. Anuvu had secured the contract to equip flyDubai’s initial batch of 737 MAX aircraft in 2018, with the airline having ordered 175 MAX jets at the time. Currently, all 57 MAX aircraft and 29 older 737-800s in flyDubai’s fleet are offline.
With flyDubai’s order of 30 Boeing 787 aircraft confirmed last November, it remains uncertain what approach the carrier will take for Wi-Fi services on these upcoming planes, as deliveries are expected later in the decade.
