Etihad launches first full OnAir connectivity on A320s

The first aircraft, equipped with the combined Mobile OnAir services, was delivered to the airline last month. 

OnAir’s combined Wi-Fi and GSM connectivity service has operated on Etihad Airways’ A330-300 aircraft for nearly two years. GSM has proved the more popular of the two options, with passengers using it for a range of activities: 76% use it for mobile data, typically email, while 33% send text messages and 21% make and receive calls. 

Wi-Fi is particularly important on flights over four hours on which passengers spend more time surfing the Internet. 

“We aim to offer our guests consistently excellent service in the air and on the ground. This applies equally to the inflight connectivity options available on our fleet,” said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer. “People want the choice of how they use their phones, tablets and laptops when they are flying as much as when they are on the ground. Our view is there is no reason why it should be any different just because you are on a different aircraft type.” 

On the Etihad Airways A320s, the OnAir services operate over the Airbus ALNA v2 platform. Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir will be installed on all of the airline’s new A320s.