Satellite communications services firm Inmarsat has signed a master distribution agreement (MDA) with US technology firm Honeywell to jointly provide business aviation satellite services.

The partnership will focus on Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) satellite system, which is scheduled to go into service commercially late next year, with business customers expected to be signed up in the first quarter of 2015.

The agreement includes a five-year capacity purchase by Honeywell.

"Honeywell's extensive product and services offerings in the business aviation space, coupled with the unprecedented aircraft connectivity capabilities of Inmarsat's GX network set the stage for a step change in business aviation connectivity services," claimed Carl Esposito, vice president of Marketing, Strategy and Product Management for Honeywell Aerospace.

Leo Mondale, Managing Director of the Inmarsat Global Xpress Programme said: "By combining their industry-leading experience with GX we ensure that business aviation customers will rapidly benefit from the introduction of our new generation connectivity services."

Shares in Inmarsat were down 6.5p at 581.5p in a falling market in early trading.

JH

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