The Finnair SES partnership was announced on 2 November 2026, with Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES set to provide inflight internet connectivity for 18 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft joining the Finnish carrier's European fleet. SES confirmed the agreement in its own statement, with Airways Magazine also reporting on the deal.
The announcement marks a concrete step in Finnair's cabin product plans for a regionally focused narrowbody type that will account for a meaningful share of its European flying from the second half of next decade.
What the Finnair SES Agreement Covers
Under the deal, each of the 18 E195-E2s will be fitted with an electronically steered array antenna during production at Embraer, making the connectivity system line-fit rather than a later retrofit. SES said this approach keeps the installation clean and avoids the disruption of post-delivery work.
The underlying network is a multi-orbit architecture. According to SES, it draws on SES's own geostationary satellite capacity alongside low-earth-orbit coverage provided by Eutelsat's OneWeb constellation, which SES describes as Europe's only operational LEO constellation. Throughout their flights, passengers will have access to the kind of reliable speeds that have become routine on the ground, whether they are watching video, handling work tasks or making use of other digital services. The goal, SES explained, is to replicate that ground-level experience in the air.
Finnair's Chief Customer Officer, Simon Large, put the case for the deal plainly: "We are excited to partner with SES to bring a home-like broadband experience to our customers." The quote appeared in SES's own press statement announcing the partnership.
The Fleet Order Behind the Agreement
The connectivity arrangement builds on an aircraft order that had already been placed. Airways Magazine reported that the March order comprised 18 firm E195-E2s together with 16 options and 12 purchase rights, a structure that leaves Finnair well placed to expand the fleet if passenger numbers justify it.
Deliveries of the 18 firm aircraft are scheduled to begin from the third quarter of 2027, with each jet fitted out in a 134-seat configuration, as Airways Magazine reported. SES has confirmed that 2027 is likewise the target year for the first connectivity-equipped aircraft to enter revenue service, aligning neatly with that delivery timeline.
For readers tracking the E195-E2's progress across European carriers, our Aircraft Search is the quickest way to explore the type's fleet profile.
Why the Multi-Orbit Approach Matters
Geostationary satellite systems carry more raw capacity but sit roughly 35,000 kilometres above the equator, which introduces latency. LEO constellations such as OneWeb orbit far closer to Earth, reducing delay and improving the experience for real-time tasks such as video calls and cloud-based applications.
Blending both layers is increasingly how connectivity providers are seeking to guarantee consistent service across varied route geographies. For a carrier like Finnair, whose European network spans everything from short domestic sectors to longer routes towards the continent's edges, coverage consistency is a practical requirement rather than a luxury.
Eutelsat's Vice President for Aviation and Maritime, Thierry Polycarpe, highlighted what the deal represents for the OneWeb network: "Finnair's selection is further evidence of the value OneWeb brings to inflight connectivity," as quoted by SES.
Finnair's Place in the Market
SES's statement noted that Finnair holds membership of the oneworld alliance and that its shares trade on Nasdaq Helsinki. SES itself is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on the Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges under the ticker SESG.
SES also pointed out that Finnair has taken the Best Airline in Northern Europe title at the Skytrax Awards on 16 successive occasions, a record that illustrates just how much the carrier has invested in its passenger proposition. Against that backdrop, any shortfall in connectivity on new regional jets would be conspicuous, given that dependable high-speed inflight internet has become a baseline expectation for business and leisure travellers.
The Bottom Line
The Finnair SES agreement is notable for two reasons beyond its size. First, the line-fit installation means the aircraft will be connected from day one, with no gap between delivery and service readiness. Second, the multi-orbit architecture positions Finnair's E195-E2 cabin ahead of systems that rely on a single satellite layer.
Whether the real-world performance matches the promise will become clearer once the first aircraft enters service in 2027. Our Airline Search is a useful starting point for anyone following Finnair's network and fleet development as deliveries approach.
This article draws on information from SES and reporting by Airways Magazine.
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