Global communications company Viasat has signed an agreement to extend its partnership with Honeywell to provide high-speed Ka-band in-flight internet service to new large and mid-sized business jet customers.

Under the agreement, Viasat’s internet services will be provided through Honeywell’s GoDirect Cabin Connectivity solutions.

Viasat’s Ka-band service is designed to provide bandwidth-intensive applications such as virtual private networks, as well as streaming high-definition video calls, Cloud content or live TV entertainment for passengers throughout the flight.

Using the Viasat services, GoDirect solutions will offer business or experience entertainment at an altitude of 40,000ft with the same service as on the ground.

“We’re enabling more business jet owners to be productive and access the applications they need and want in densely populated airspace.”

Business jet operators and their passengers will also be able to watch live TV, news, and sports with an additional subscription without the loss of their individual data plans or a separate antenna.

Viasat’s service offered through GoDirect comprises global Ku-band data on all Ka-band plans with 40GB and more at no additional service cost.

This service can be availed by aircraft that are equipped with Viasat’s dual-band Ka-band / Ku-band shipset.

Viasat Global Network Services vice-president Jerry Goodwin said: “Whether connecting for business or pleasure, we’re proving on more than 2,000 Viasat Ka-band equipped flights daily that internet speeds and performance can be comparable in the air and the ground.

“By expanding our partnership with GoDirect we’re bringing a new internet service quality to the business aviation market.

“We’re enabling more business jet owners to be productive and access the applications they need and want in densely populated airspace, at the speeds and reliability they expect.”

In a separate development, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) has launched its new high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi service powered by Viasaton its short- and medium-haul routes between Scandinavia and Europe.