Panasonic Avionics
Long-haul Ku-band WiFi and IFE on widebodies for major international carriers.
Provider Snapshot
Where you'll find it
About Panasonic Avionics
Panasonic Avionics is an aviation-only in-flight entertainment (IFE) supplier whose connectivity arm provides Ku-band satellite WiFi to long-haul international airlines. Panasonic terminals are on a large slice of the world's widebody fleet, often paired with the airline's seatback IFE. Unlike Starlink, Viasat or SES, Panasonic does not serve cruise, rail or ferry customers — its product is purely aviation. The systems work but are increasingly outclassed by LEO services like Starlink.
History
Panasonic Avionics began as Matsushita Avionics Systems in 1979 and grew into the dominant IFE supplier of the long-haul widebody era. Its connectivity service ("Panasonic eXConnect") launched in 2012 using Ku-band capacity from third-party operators including Intelsat and SES. The system has been widely deployed on airlines including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad, Cathay Pacific, ANA, and others. Panasonic announced a multi-orbit roadmap incorporating LEO capacity, but most carriers transitioning to LEO are picking Starlink directly.
Operators using Panasonic Avionics (21)
Flights (21)
How Panasonic Compares
Panasonic's Ku-band is a workhorse but underwhelming compared to Starlink — typical speeds are a fraction of LEO performance, and latency is satellite-typical (~600ms). Singapore Airlines, one of Panasonic's flagship customers, announced in May 2026 that it will transition to Starlink. Expect Panasonic's footprint on premium long-haul to erode substantially over 2026–2029.
| Panasonic | Starlink | |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit | GEO / ATG (~600ms latency) | LEO (~20–44ms latency) |
| Typical Speed | 5–40 Mbps typical; constrained on full long-haul flights | 100+ Mbps typical, 350+ peak |
| Latency | ~600ms (GEO) / 60–100ms (ATG) | ~20–44ms |
| Trajectory | Defending installed base | Rapid airline adoption |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines use Panasonic WiFi?
Panasonic Avionics WiFi has been deployed on Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Saudia, Aer Lingus, and many other long-haul international carriers. Several of these — most notably Singapore Airlines — are now in the process of transitioning to Starlink.
Is Panasonic WiFi free on flights?
It varies. Some airlines (Singapore Airlines for KrisFlyer/PPS members and premium cabins, Lufthansa Travel ID) include Panasonic WiFi for free. Others charge per flight or per duration. Pricing depends entirely on the airline, not Panasonic.
How fast is Panasonic in-flight WiFi?
Typical speeds are 5–40 Mbps to the aircraft, with per-passenger speeds usually in the 1–10 Mbps range when the cabin is busy. Speeds are sufficient for messaging, email, light browsing, and some standard-definition video, but generally too slow for HD streaming or video calls.
Panasonic vs Starlink — which is better?
Starlink is dramatically faster (typical 100+ Mbps vs Panasonic's 5–40 Mbps to the aircraft) and has 20× lower latency thanks to LEO orbits. Panasonic's advantage is incumbent installed base and IFE integration; for raw connectivity quality, Starlink wins.
Is Panasonic moving to LEO satellites?
Panasonic has announced plans to integrate LEO capacity into a multi-orbit network, including partnership discussions with various LEO operators. As of 2026, however, most airlines making the LEO switch are signing directly with Starlink rather than waiting for Panasonic's multi-orbit product.