Volotea to trial high-speed LEO connectivity with Immfly in 2026
April 15, 2026
Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea will test high-speed low Earth orbit (LEO) in-flight connectivity through an extended partnership with Immfly.
The 12-month trial, announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, will combine Immfly’s onboard digital platform with a Gogo electronically steered antenna (ESA) and the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellite constellation.
Equipment installation is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026 on one of Volotea’s Airbus A320 aircraft.
Volotea takes a hybrid connectivity approach
The Volotea trial will evaluate the operational and commercial benefits of high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity in a live low-cost airline environment. The aircraft selected for the test already features Immfly’s Equilux onboard server and wireless in-flight entertainment (wIFE) system, which will allow a relatively seamless upgrade without requiring major additional hardware.
Alongside the LEO trial, Volotea will roll out a fleet-wide narrowband connectivity solution using Iridium Communications satellites. This deployment, expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, will cover the airline’s fleet of 44–46 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.
The narrowband service supports passenger messaging, including WhatsApp, as well as critical operational communications.
Retail and digital operations overhaul
Volotea and Immfly are also preparing an onboard retail transformation, supported by new in-flight connectivity. With a planned rollout in the second half of 2026, the program will introduce an integrated retail ecosystem across the airline’s network.
Key elements include a crew electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) system, an upgraded back-office platform, and new passenger-facing features such as pre-order and in-seat ordering. These capabilities will function with both narrowband and high-speed LEO connectivity.
The partners expect the initiative to enable faster, more secure transactions, expand ancillary revenue opportunities, and streamline onboard services through data-driven insights.
A blueprint for in-flight connectivity on low-cost carriers
The combined rollout of high-speed LEO connectivity trials, fleet-wide narrowband coverage, and integrated retail systems makes Volotea a test case for digital transformation in the low-cost and ultra-low-cost carrier segment.
Budget airlines lag behind traditional carriers in offering in-flight WiFi largely because service installation and operating costs aren’t sufficiently offset by ancillary revenue. A study by Moment found that while 89% of full-service carriers are now connected, only 43% of low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers are.
The Volotea announcement follows Immfly’s announcement of low-bandwidth connectivity trials on Wizz Air aircraft powered by the Iridium satellite network. Immfly has also partnered with Eutelsat’s OneWeb and Gogo to make high-speed connectivity more accessible to the low-cost segment.
A decade-long partnership evolves from entertainment to connectivity
Immfly and Volotea have worked together since 2015, initially focusing on wireless in-flight entertainment. Over the past decade, the partnership has expanded to include onboard retail.
Immfly CEO Pablo Linz described the new Volotea program as a “step-change in digital performance,” highlighting the integration of connectivity tiers, onboard retail, and upgraded hardware into a unified platform.
Volotea Chief Experience Officer Alex de Jesús added that the initiative is “about making every interaction onboard simpler, more connected and more enjoyable for our passengers, while continuing to support efficient operations across our network.”
The new addition of connectivity, both low-bandwidth messaging and the high-speed WiFi trial, promises to enhance the passenger experience while helping Volotea evaluate the business case for high-speed in-flight WiFi.
Featured Image: Lukas Wunderlich | stock.adobe.com
