Its was now delivering broadband connectivity to Air Canada aircraft and some corporate jet outfits, it said in a statement.

It added that it had a "backlog of over 1,000 aircraft scheduled for installation".

The European satellite operator is vying to be seen as an alternative to Starlink, as companies in Europe and elsewhere look askance at Musk's political manoeuvrings as advisor to US President Donald Trump.

Already, fears that Musk could pull Starlink service from Ukraine, where it is used by the military fighting off Russia's invasion, have focused attention on Eutelsat's offering.

But Eutelsat itself also relies on Musk's SpaceX company -- which counts Starlink as its most valuable unit -- to launch many of its low-orbiting satellites.

And European airlines such as Air France have already turned to Starlink to provide connectivity on their planes.

Starlink says it has more than 7,000 satellites circling the Earth. Eutelsat currently has fewer than 700 satellites in low orbit.

dax/pel/rmb/db

EUTELSAT COMMUNICATIONS

AIR CANADA

Air France-KLM