Airbus and Yuanxin Satellite partner on the Qianfan constellation for low-latency inflight connectivity

Airbus and China’s Yuanxin Satellite have announced a new strategic partnership under the ambitious Thousand Sails Constellation (Qianfan Constellation) project. The contract, signed at the 2025 Satellite Internet Ecosystem Conference, is aimed at building a high-speed satellite broadband network with minimal latency.

Airbus plans to integrate Yuanxin’s satellite constellation into its inflight services through an onboard high-speed connectivity system. The move is expected to markedly improve passenger internet access and boost fleet management efficiency. The new platform is being developed with an emphasis on stable performance at very high data rates and truly global coverage.

The partners say they will focus on airlines’ core needs: dependable, low-latency broadband. That includes smart, personalized services ranging from richer onboard entertainment to real-time telemetry and route optimization. The message is clear—better connectivity can serve both as a comfort for travelers and as a tool for more efficient operations, a combination that could nudge civil aviation toward higher-quality growth.

Yuanxin Satellite’s chief technology officer, Li Gotong, previously said that tests of the Thousand Sails Constellation’s satellites and orbital infrastructure had fully validated the stated performance. According to him, the system also successfully completed trials for overseas application scenarios.

The Qianfan constellation is designed to deliver satellite broadband worldwide with high speed, low latency, and enhanced reliability. The network is compatible with current communications standards and can evolve toward 6G. Over time, the project is intended to knit together terrestrial, aerial, maritime, and satellite networks into a seamless whole.