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Four Ways Connectivity Is Redefining Performance On Private Jets

In the new season of Viasat's Above the Noise podcast, leading voices across global sports, business, and aviation share how in-flight connectivity is redefining performance, decision-making, and expectations at 40,000 feet.

07-02-2026

5-minute read 

Following a breakout first season, Above the Noise: Business Aviation Edition returned with three new episodes that have already generated millions of views worldwide.

 

The podcast introduces a new host, Amalfi Jets CEO Kolin Jones, who interviews an accomplished lineup of guests, including Eddie Hearn (global boxing promoter and master of the deal), Stephanie Goetz (trailblazing pilot, entrepreneur, and performance coach), and Sam Chui (one of the world's most followed aviation content creators).

 

While each guest brings a different perspective on leadership, innovation, and performance at the highest levels, one theme emerges throughout the season: in-flight connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a fundamental part of how high-performing individuals live, work, and make decisions in real time.

 

Whether it's negotiating multimillion-dollar deals, making life-changing decisions, operating aircraft more effectively, or meeting growing passenger expectations, connectivity has become a defining enabler of performance in the air.

 

The four insights below highlight how expectations around connectivity continue to evolve.

INSIGHT 01

In-flight connectivity now defines business outcomes

At the highest levels of business, success is often determined in real time. In-flight connectivity has become a defining factor in whether opportunities are won or lost.

 

Eddie Hearn, one of the world's leading sports promoters, illustrates this reality through the pace and pressure of deal-making. As he explains, during critical negotiations, you cannot simply disappear for hours at a time.

Being offline is now a risk

His point is simple but powerful. In highly competitive environments, being offline is no longer a pause, but a risk. Momentum does not wait, and opportunities do not stand still.

 

Time in the air has shifted from downtime to a critical window for action. The ability to respond instantly, manage conversations, and maintain continuity can fundamentally shape business outcomes.

Not limited to one industry

This dynamic is not limited to one industry. In a previous season of Above the Noise, Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner described finalizing a driver signing mid-flight while traveling to Bahrain. With time zones, legal requirements, and FIA approvals involved, the deal required contracts to be reviewed, signed, and exchanged in real time. Without continuous in-flight connectivity, the process would have been delayed by at least a full day.

Eddie Hearn, world-leading sports promoter.

Eddie Hearn — Global boxing promoter & dealmaker

You need to have that connectivity over a six, eight, 10, 12 hour period to be reactive. You can't just disappear in the middle of a deal, or middle of a conversation, because when you've disappeared, your competitor's already flown to someone's house and they're having that conversation. You land, and it's, 'Oh, really sorry, we've already wrapped it up'.

— Eddie Hearn

INSIGHT 02

The cabin is now a space where life-changing decisions happen

In a rare interview, Sam Chui, one of the world's most followed aviation content creators with a global audience of more than 6 million, revealed that he once purchased a home in Dubai while flying, completing the transaction using onboard Wi-Fi.

 

It is a striking example of how expectations around connectivity have evolved. Drawing on feedback from his global audience, Sam notes that Wi-Fi now ranks among the most important aspects of the travel experience, with passengers increasingly expecting to remain connected wherever they are in the world.

Where the ground meets the air

His experience reflects a broader shift. The boundaries between life on the ground and in the air are disappearing, as connectivity enables decisions, opportunities, and personal milestones to happen in real time.

 

Flights are no longer a pause between destinations. The private jet cabin has evolved into a fully connected environment where work, opportunity, and personal decisions continue seamlessly, and nothing needs to stop simply because you are in the air.

Sam Chui, aviation content producer

Sam Chui — Aviation content creator · 6M+ audience

INSIGHT 03

Connectivity delivers confidence, control, and continuity across the journey

Stephanie Goetz, a trailblazing pilot, entrepreneur, and performance coach, offers a powerful perspective on how in-flight connectivity is transforming both the cockpit and the cabin.

 

As she explains, connectivity has become a fundamental part of modern flight operations.

In the cockpit: sharper decisions

From real-time weather and turbulence data to live operational updates, access to information in the air enables faster, more informed decision-making.

 

Importantly, connectivity also extends beyond the aircraft itself. By maintaining communication with operations, dispatch, and maintenance teams on the ground, pilots gain access to additional expertise when it matters most. As Stephanie describes it, connectivity effectively brings "one more brain" into the cockpit, providing support, guidance, and perspective in complex or unexpected situations.

In the cabin: offices in the sky

At the same time, expectations in the cabin have evolved just as quickly. Aircraft are no longer simply a means of transportation between meetings. "These aircraft have turned into offices in the sky," she notes, where passengers increasingly expect to remain connected, productive, and responsive throughout the journey.

 

From enhanced situational awareness in the cockpit to uninterrupted productivity in the cabin, in-flight connectivity now underpins the entire travel experience, delivering greater confidence, control, and continuity from takeoff to landing.

Stephanie Goetz, trailblazing pilot and entrepreneur.

Stephanie Goetz — Pilot, entrepreneur & performance coach

Connectivity is a non-negotiable now. We want to have all of that information at our fingertips.

— Stephanie Goetz

INSIGHT 04

Consistency is what truly defines great connectivity

Across the season, one principle emerges clearly: in-flight connectivity is no longer judged by headline speeds alone.

 

Kolin Jones, host of the series and CEO of private jet charter company Amalfi Jets, sees this shift firsthand. He explains that what matters most to clients today is not simply having Wi-Fi onboard, but having confidence that it will perform consistently throughout the journey.

Passengers expect ground-level reliability

His point reflects a broader change in passenger expectations. Aircraft have become offices in the sky, where meetings take place, deals move forward, and time cannot be wasted. Passengers no longer view connectivity as an optional convenience. They expect the same seamless experience in the air that they have on the ground.

The same is true in the cockpit

The same principle applies in the cockpit. Pilots increasingly rely on real-time information to support decision-making, coordinate with teams on the ground, and respond to changing conditions. Connectivity must be available when it is needed, without interruption.

 

As Kolin's experience demonstrates, great connectivity is defined less by peak speed and more by consistency. The true measure of performance is not how fast a connection can be at its best, but whether passengers and crew can rely on it throughout the entire journey.

Kolin Jones, CEO of Amalfi Jets.

Kolin Jones — Host · CEO, Amalfi Jets

You're not going to get 20 minutes of a movie, pause at a cliffhanger, and have to wait for what's next. That consistency in the cabin is so important.

— Kolin Jones

Coverage confidence

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Capacity is key

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Sky-high tech

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A new baseline at altitude

Taken together, these insights from Season 2 of Above the Noise: Business Aviation Edition point to a clear shift. In-flight connectivity is no longer simply an added feature, but a defining enabler of performance in the air.

 

For business aviation travelers, the expectation is clear. Connectivity must be continuous, reliable, and always available. The experience in the air is increasingly expected to match the experience on the ground, enabling work, decisions, and opportunities to continue without interruption.

 

To explore these conversations in full, watch the full episodes now.

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