06 November 2025

In an industry where even seconds of downtime can cause significant disruptions, SITA has introduced Managed Satellites, a fully managed satellite service designed to keep airports and airlines connected at all times — regardless of outages, natural disasters, or remote locations.

Available in over 130 countries, this service offers primary, secondary, and emergency connectivity options tailored for the air transport sector. Leveraging low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it provides secure, high-bandwidth, low-latency communications that ensure critical systems remain operational during network failures or congestion.

The solution directly addresses vulnerabilities of traditional fibre and terrestrial networks, which are susceptible to earthquakes, weather events, fibre cuts, and peak congestion. It is ideal for off-airport sites, aircraft maintenance hangars, cargo hubs, and emergency deployments, enabling continuous operations even in challenging circumstances.

Martin Smillie, SVP at SITA, emphasized that this technology is vital for maintaining high availability in airports by offering a flexible, cost-effective way to enhance network resilience and optimize digital operations. The service includes 24/7 monitoring, installation, support, and seamless integration with other SITA connectivity solutions.

Key features include industry-regulated, secure satellite connectivity; full lifecycle management and support worldwide; proactive monitoring to prevent disruptions; bundling options with other airport connectivity services; and expert on-site support for deployment and maintenance

As airports become increasingly dependent on uninterrupted digital systems, SITA Managed Satellites provides the reliable, resilient connectivity needed to operate smoothly in any situation.