Viasat Expands Relationship with SAS by Adding Viasat In-flight Connectivity to SAS New Airbus A321LR and A330-300E Aircraft

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Sep 10, 2019, 08:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- (Airline Passenger Experience Expo—APEX—Viasat booth #2031) – Building on the strength of their three-year partnership, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and global communications company, Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), announced today the airline has selected Viasat's in-flight connectivity (IFC) system for its new Airbus fleet additions: the A321LR and the A330-300E.

SAS has continued to make investments to modernize its global flight routes. With the additions of the A321LR and A330-300E aircraft, SAS expects to improve its narrow- and wide-body long-haul fleet, expanding transcontinental flight routes to and from Scandinavia. Important to SAS' expanding fleet operations is the availability of Viasat's high-speed, high-quality gate-to-gate IFC service with advanced streaming, web browsing and other online applications.

The A321LR and A330-300E aircraft will be retrofitted with Viasat's latest Ka-band IFC kit, which is expected to provide optimal in-flight connections when flying in Viasat's satellite coverage area, which includes Viasat's existing and future satellite systems:

First generation spacecraft (ViaSat-1, WildBlue-1, Anik F2: service over North America as well as KA-SAT: service over Europe and the Mediterranean Basin);
Second generation spacecraft (ViaSat-2, service covering North America, Central America, the Caribbean, a portion of northern South America, as well as the primary aeronautical routes across the Atlantic Ocean bridging North America and Europe); and
Third generation, most advanced satellite constellation (ViaSat-3, which consists of three satellites expected to provide near global coverage, with each one covering approximately one-third of the planet).

"Since first working with SAS, we built a strong partnership based on delivering service quality and creating value for SAS' passengers by enabling them to enjoy and experience connectivity in the air that was similar to what they expected on the ground," said Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Aviation at Viasat. "Today's announcement is a testament to the level of service we bring to each airline engagement. Extending the use of our in-flight Wi-Fi service beyond SAS short-haul flights—to now include long-haul and transatlantic routes—will help SAS meet the growing broadband demands of their passengers."

About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, among others, include statements that refer to the speed, performance and quality of the Viasat IFC system and the expected coverage, availability and other features of the ViaSat-3 satellites. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to successfully implement Viasat's business plan for broadband services on the anticipated timeline or at all; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; contractual problems; product defects; manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues; and economic conditions affecting the global business environment or aviation sector generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Copyright © 2019 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Viasat, Inc.