- News
- Oct 30, 2026
- 5 min read
Satellite broadband planned across a 27-aircraft business jet fleet
A North Carolina operator plans to equip 27 business jets with satellite broadband, using a five-year equipment payment programme.
Daria Konstantine
Jet Excellence has 27 Citation X aircraft to equip. The North Carolina operator plans to install Gogo Galileo HDX satellite broadband across the entire fleet, committing to a cabin upgrade in one go.
The financing carries its own weight. Gogo’s programme lets Jet Excellence spread equipment payments over five years rather than pay the full bill upfront for the fleet upgrade.
Connectivity Meets Capital Discipline
Corporate Jet Investor’s October 2026 coverage says Jet Excellence will use Gogo’s financing programme to spread equipment payments over five years. Araina Aviation will handle the installations. At the announcement, work was scheduled to begin immediately.
The commercial logic is straightforward. Spreading equipment payments reduces the initial capital outlay, but it doesn’t establish the upgrade’s total cost or the financial return it might deliver.
“Reliable inflight connectivity has become a crucial part of the service our customers expect us to provide,” said McQueen Campbell, CEO at Jet Excellence. “Gogo Galileo gives us the performance and global coverage needed to support passengers who want to remain productive and entertained throughout their flights. Gogo’s financing solution also gives us a practical way to introduce that capability across our fleet on an accelerated schedule.”
What changes for the passenger? The aim is continuity: opening a document or settling into entertainment without having to treat departure as an interruption to digital life. That changes one dimension of cabin comfort. The leather and woodwork remain untouched.
The Hardware Behind the Experience
According to Corporate Jet Investor in October 2026, Galileo uses Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellite network to deliver connectivity. Gogo describes that connectivity as high-speed, low-latency and global, using an electronically steered HDX antenna designed to be lightweight, aerodynamic and low-power.
Certification provides the practical foundation. Araina Aviation holds an FAA supplemental type certificate that covers installation of the Galileo HDX system on the Citation X.
The retrofit connects the aircraft to a broader Citation product strategy. Corporate Jet Investor reported in October 2024 that Galileo HDX would become a factory option on three Citations: the Longitude, Latitude and Ascend. Jet Excellence isn’t waiting for replacement aircraft. Its decision brings that connectivity proposition to the existing fleet rather than tying the investment to the purchase of new aircraft.
“Jet Excellence operates in an environment where aircraft availability, operating economics and a consistent passenger experience are all critical,” said Chris Moore, CEO of Gogo. “Our role is not simply to provide connectivity, but to help customers choose, integrate and support the solution that’s right for their operation. By combining Gogo Galileo with flexible financing, we’re making it easier for operators to modernise their fleets and invest with confidence.”
Owners considering a similar retrofit should weigh installed cost, downtime, service charges and demonstrated passenger performance before committing to the upgrade. The supplied announcement-derived coverage discloses no fleet count, measured bandwidth or installation duration. Financing and certification provide tangible foundations. The onboard experience still has to prove the investment.
Sources
Jet Excellence has 27 Citation X aircraft to equip. The North Carolina operator plans to install Gogo Galileo HDX satellite broadband across the entire fleet, committing to a cabin upgrade in one go.
The financing carries its own weight. Gogo’s programme lets Jet Excellence spread equipment payments over five years rather than pay the full bill upfront for the fleet upgrade.
Connectivity Meets Capital Discipline
Corporate Jet Investor’s October 2026 coverage says Jet Excellence will use Gogo’s financing programme to spread equipment payments over five years. Araina Aviation will handle the installations. At the announcement, work was scheduled to begin immediately.
The commercial logic is straightforward. Spreading equipment payments reduces the initial capital outlay, but it doesn’t establish the upgrade’s total cost or the financial return it might deliver.
“Reliable inflight connectivity has become a crucial part of the service our customers expect us to provide,” said McQueen Campbell, CEO at Jet Excellence. “Gogo Galileo gives us the performance and global coverage needed to support passengers who want to remain productive and entertained throughout their flights. Gogo’s financing solution also gives us a practical way to introduce that capability across our fleet on an accelerated schedule.”
What changes for the passenger? The aim is continuity: opening a document or settling into entertainment without having to treat departure as an interruption to digital life. That changes one dimension of cabin comfort. The leather and woodwork remain untouched.
Sponsored by Jet24 global
The Hardware Behind the Experience
According to Corporate Jet Investor in October 2026, Galileo uses Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellite network to deliver connectivity. Gogo describes that connectivity as high-speed, low-latency and global, using an electronically steered HDX antenna designed to be lightweight, aerodynamic and low-power.
Certification provides the practical foundation. Araina Aviation holds an FAA supplemental type certificate that covers installation of the Galileo HDX system on the Citation X.
The retrofit connects the aircraft to a broader Citation product strategy. Corporate Jet Investor reported in October 2024 that Galileo HDX would become a factory option on three Citations: the Longitude, Latitude and Ascend. Jet Excellence isn’t waiting for replacement aircraft. Its decision brings that connectivity proposition to the existing fleet rather than tying the investment to the purchase of new aircraft.
“Jet Excellence operates in an environment where aircraft availability, operating economics and a consistent passenger experience are all critical,” said Chris Moore, CEO of Gogo. “Our role is not simply to provide connectivity, but to help customers choose, integrate and support the solution that’s right for their operation. By combining Gogo Galileo with flexible financing, we’re making it easier for operators to modernise their fleets and invest with confidence.”
Owners considering a similar retrofit should weigh installed cost, downtime, service charges and demonstrated passenger performance before committing to the upgrade. The supplied announcement-derived coverage discloses no fleet count, measured bandwidth or installation duration. Financing and certification provide tangible foundations. The onboard experience still has to prove the investment.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
- What is Jet Excellence installing on its Citation X fleet?
- Jet Excellence plans to install Gogo Galileo HDX satellite broadband across all 27 of its Citation X aircraft. Araina Aviation will carry out the installations.
- How is Jet Excellence financing the Galileo HDX upgrades?
- Gogo’s financing programme allows Jet Excellence to spread equipment payments over five years, reducing the upfront outlay. The article does not disclose the total cost.
- What satellite network does Gogo Galileo HDX use?
- Galileo HDX uses Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellite network. Its electronically steered antenna is designed to provide global inflight connectivity.
