OnAir signs connectivity deals with trio of MENA airlines

Geneva-based OnAir has announced three major deals with MENA-based airlines for inflight connectivity at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
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The airlines are Qatar, Saudia and Libyan in contracts for both inflight GSM (mobile and smartphone) connectivity and WiFi internet access.

 
Qatar Airways has extended its use of Inmarsat SwiftBroadband connectivity to its upcoming A350 and A380 fleets. These are to be line-fitted with both Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir connectivity.
 
In total, more than 150 Qatar Airways’ aircraft will have OnAir connectivity, including its Boeing 787s. 
 
The airline currently has orders for 13 Airbus A380s, including options, with deliveries starting in 2014. The airline also has orders for 80 A350s.
 
This announcement comes after Qatar Airways has been operating OnAir’s GSM telephony on its Airbus A320s for more than three years.
 
“We have been operating Mobile OnAir for more than three years on some of our aircraft and it's clear that our passengers want, and are coming to expect, inflight connectivity,” said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways.
 
“We have seen high levels of usage of the OnAir services on flights to and from Europe, as well as on regional flights.
 
"The pattern emerging is that travellers typically use mobile data, for example for email and reading the news. Leisure passengers are more likely to send text messages or update Twitter and Facebook accounts.”
 
Qatar Airways’ passengers have the choice of using either the GSM network or Wi-Fi. They can use their mobile phones and tablets for calls, texting, emailing, updating social media and surfing the internet.
 
Saudia is also expanding its inflight connectivity programme on routes between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and most of its worldwide destinations. It is also using crew applications to extend the use of the connectivity pipeline to the ground.
 
The announcement comes after Saudia has been providing OnAir’s GSM and Wi-Fi on its A330s for nearly three years.
 
Saudia’s new A330s, which will be delivered throughout this year and next, will be equipped with Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir. They will join the Airbus A330s already flying with OnAir connectivity, bringing the total to 12.
 
The airline’s existing and planned fleet of 20 B777-300ERs will also have OnAir’s GSM and Wi-Fi services fitted, enabled by the Thales TopConnect solution.
 
The final contract is Libyan Airlines, which will take delivery of its first Airbus A330 next month, equipped with OnAir connectivity. Passengers on long-haul flights to and from Tripoli will be able to stay in contact with family, friends and colleagues by phone, SMS and email. They will also be able to update social media accounts and use the internet.
 
“There are three truths about inflight connectivity”, said Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO. “The first is that any airline wanting to attract and keep customers must provide connectivity.
 
"The second is the connectivity has to be consistent all over the world. Finally, passengers want to use their phones, tablets and laptops in the same way they do on the ground, so they must have access to both a mobile phone network and Wi-Fi.”

 

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