SES and Abra Group to Bring Multi-Orbit IFC to More Than 100 Aircraft
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SES and Abra Group have launched a new multi-orbit in-flight connectivity (IFC) service across the first aircraft in a planned fleet-wide rollout. The move reflects a significant investment in next-generation digital onboard infrastructure as Abra Group airlines look to deliver more consistent, high-performance connectivity across Airbus and Boeing fleets. With initial aircraft now operational, the solution is set to expand to more than 100 aircraft across the group in the coming years.
Multi-Orbit Connectivity Built for Scale and Resilience
The new in-flight Wi-Fi service is powered by SES’ multi-orbit network, which combines geostationary (GEO) satellite capacity with low-Earth orbit (LEO) coverage to deliver more reliable, consistent IFC. SES’ LEO partner for the program is Eutelsat OneWeb, whose satellites work alongside SES’ GEO fleet to offer lower latency and wider coverage across the Americas. The multi-orbit system allows aircraft to use the best satellite layer based on location, demand, and network conditions.
“SES’ partnerships with […] airlines like Avianca, GOL, and Wamos Air highlight how carriers throughout the Americas are leading the way when it comes to advanced connectivity.”
– Enrique Villasenor, SES
The service supports passenger needs including messaging, browsing, and streaming, while creating room for future services that depend on steady, low-latency connectivity.
A Multi-Year Installation Plan Across the Abra Group Fleet
Abra Group is a Latin American airline holding company that brings together carriers like Avianca and GOL, along with Wamos Air and a stake in Sky Airline, under one strategic umbrella while keeping each airline’s brand and operations separate. Avianca leads the first phase of the IFC rollout, with 10 Airbus A320s already flying with SES connectivity.
From an operational standpoint, each installation takes between 36 and 48 hours per aircraft, allowing airlines to integrate the system efficiently during scheduled maintenance windows. This relatively short installation timeframe supports steady fleetwide progress without extended aircraft downtime, a critical consideration for high-utilization narrow-body fleets such as Avianca’s A320s.
Beyond Avianca’s A320 fleet, SES and Abra Group have mapped out a multi-year installation plan that will eventually cover more than 100 Airbus and Boeing aircraft operated by Avianca, GOL, and Wamos Air. The timeline stretches several years, driven largely by fleet delivery schedules. Avianca does not expect to take delivery of its Boeing 787 aircraft until late next year or early 2026, which places wide-body installations later in the program.
Avianca Embraces SES’ New ESA
The airline is one of the first in Latin America to use SES’ electronically steered array (ESA) antenna, which allows seamless switching between GEO and LEO satellites. The antenna, which is just under seven centimeters tall, keeps drag and weight low while still delivering strong performance.
The ESA antenna makes multi-orbit connectivity practical at scale. Because it is electronically steered, it needs less maintenance and can track satellites faster and more smoothly than mechanical systems. That flexibility matters most on routes with changing terrain or uneven coverage, where switching between orbital layers helps keep performance steady.
Standardizing around a single multi-orbit architecture across multiple airlines offers operational advantages at the group level. Shared hardware, installation processes, and network integration reduce complexity and allow best practices from early deployments to carry forward across fleets. This approach also simplifies supplier coordination and certification, helping Abra Group maintain momentum as the rollout expands.
“SES’ partnerships with growing Abra Group airlines like Avianca, GOL, and Wamos Air highlight how carriers throughout the Americas are leading the way when it comes to advanced connectivity,” said SES VP Global Airline Partnerships Enrique Villasenor. “SES is the engine that powers in-flight connectivity, a trusted partner that makes airline operations easier.”