Satellite operator SES is partnering with Google to provide streamlined Android-based login on flights and in the process expanding in-flight connectivity and revenue potential.

SES is teaming up with Google to streamline how Android users connect and engage with airline-branded onboard portals. The collaboration aims to strengthen portal engagement and create more consistent experiences for passengers using Android devices.

According to Lars Bergstrom, Android Platform Director of Engineering, the work is aimed at improving connectivity at 35,000 feet by addressing common pain points passengers encounter when trying to get online.

“With SES multi-orbit in-flight connectivity reaching millions of passengers, we believe the experience at 35,000 feet should be as seamless as it is on the ground,” said Bergstrom. “By eliminating login and connection friction, we’re ensuring that whether travellers are streaming, gaming or working, they have immediate access to trusted features like seamless autofill and secure payments. We are thrilled to see SES leading the industry in adopting these improvements to deliver a more reliable and secure journey for Android users.”

A superior in-flight connectivity experience starts the moment a passenger tries to connect. Historically, that first step has been a source of frustration, marked by portal launch delays, confusing redirects, and extra steps such as requiring travellers to remember passwords, manually enter URLs, or repeat connection prompts, says SES.

As an Early Access Partner, SES collaborated with Google to create a stronger bridge and smoother handoff between the SES multi-orbit satellite network and Android operating systems. On SES-equipped flights, when an Android device joins the network, the airline portal can now appear automatically in Android Custom Tab with full-fledged browser features, enabling passengers to start sessions and access entertainment with fewer steps and faster time-to-service.

During sessions, Android users can also benefit from familiar capabilities such as password and credit card autofill, reducing friction that can slow conversion and degrade satisfaction, SES says.

For airlines, streamlining connection is only part of the equation. Keeping passengers engaged with the airline’s onboard portal, and making it easy to return after switching tasks, supports loyalty and monetization. Longer and more frequent portal visits can drive:

• Loyalty programme enrollment

• Advertising and sponsorships

• Retail and e-commerce conversion

• Upgrades and premium entertainment

• Personalised ancillary offers

To address this challenge, SES collaborated with Google to introduce Android Custom Tabs for Captive Portal Login, which helps passengers navigate to and from the airline’s portal more seamlessly during a connectivity session.

Unlike a traditional webview based login that can feel ‘gone’ once a user moves on, Android Custom Tab keeps the portal open in the background like a persistent application. Passengers can swipe away, use other apps, and return to the portal at any point, similar to toggling from one app to another. The result is a smoother experience for travellers and a stronger branded touchpoint for airlines.

The addition of Google/Android on SES-equipped aircraft is a major advance, however there is growing evidence that many airlines are not seeking revenue from in-flight communications and offer connectivity ‘free’ as part of their overall ticket cost.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite

Tags: google, IFE, SES