Azerbaijan Airlines Names Stellar as Exclusive CSP Set to Power a New Digital IFE Experience
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Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has named Stellar Entertainment (Stellar) as its exclusive content service provider (CSP). The airline sees this partnership as central to its quest to provide a more modern, expressive, and globally competitive digital experience. The announcement comes as AZAL invests in streaming-speed Wi-Fi through its new Viasat Amara agreement, unveiled at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, signaling a unified push to upgrade in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) across its fleet.
A Curated Content Strategy with Local and Global Reach
AZAL views IFE as a central component of its premium service vision. Together with Stellar, the airline has renewed its focus on digital experience by strengthening content quality, expanding language support, and highlighting stories that reflect Azerbaijan.
“Partnering with Stellar allows us to combine global entertainment standards with the richness of Azerbaijani culture.”
– Mirjafar Jafarov, Azerbaijan Airlines
Central to its new IFE offering is a curated collection of locally produced films and documentaries that showcase Azerbaijani filmmakers and storytellers to help passengers connect with the country’s landscapes, communities, and cultural heritage.
The airline has also added Azerbaijani subtitles to Hollywood blockbusters for the first time, making major studio releases more accessible for local travelers. At the same time, AZAL has expanded its global library to include Hindi dramas, Turkish favorites, Asian cinema, and Russian classics.
The agreement gives Stellar responsibility for the full content lifecycle, from curation and licensing to metadata preparation and technical delivery. The company has already introduced a refresh cycle that brings new content onboard regularly, delivering variety while maintaining consistency across both long-haul and short-haul operations.
“At AZAL, we aim to provide passengers with an in-flight experience that is both modern and meaningful,” commented Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan Airlines Mirjafar Jafarov. “Partnering with Stellar allows us to combine global entertainment standards with the richness of Azerbaijani culture, offering a catalogue that inspires, informs, and reflects who we are as a nation. This collaboration is a significant milestone as we continue to expand our network and enhance our service offering.”
Modernizing the Digital Experience Onboard
The decision to select Stellar as its CSP comes as Azerbaijan Airlines continues to invest heavily in its onboard product as part of a broader effort to modernize the passenger experience. Alongside its fleet renewal and cabin enhancements, the airline has prioritized digital services that shape how passengers connect, stream, and engage in-flight.
It signed a strategic agreement with Viasat at the 2025 Dubai Airshow to introduce high-speed, streaming-capable Wi-Fi across the fleet for the first time. Under the agreement, AZAL will equip twenty new aircraft, including Airbus A320 family jets and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with the Viasat Amara in-flight connectivity solution announced at AIX earlier this year. The first connected aircraft has already entered service, with IFC being offered free of charge to business-class passengers and top-tier loyalty members.
The Viasat partnership also includes access to a wireless IFE platform that allows passengers to stream a broad range of content directly to their personal devices. This capability complements AZAL’s refreshed IFE strategy and gives travelers greater flexibility in how they access entertainment during the flight.
Together, these investments signal that Azerbaijan Airlines is entering a new digital era. By aligning streaming-speed connectivity with curated entertainment and modern aircraft, AZAL is building an onboard experience that reflects contemporary passenger expectations. The combination of Stellar’s content expertise and Viasat’s connectivity platform positions the airline to deliver a consistent, competitive, and future-ready digital experience across its growing network.