Cebu Pacific Air To Offer Inflight Wi-Fi With OnAir
– First LCC in Southeast Asia to offer Wi-Fi
Manila, Philippines | July 3, 2012– Cebu Pacific Air (PSE: CEB), the Philippines' largest flag carrier, will provide the OnAir Internet service to passengers in its Airbus A330 fleet starting in 2013. The airline also has the option to install Wi-Fi on its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, for short haul flights, in the next phase.
Once Internet OnAir is in service, Cebu Pacific passengers will be able to access the Internet during flights and make calls using Voice Over IP applications, using their Wi-Fi enabled personal electronic devices, such as Android™ phones and tablets, iPhone®, iPad®, BlackBerry®, and laptops. Cebu Pacific's A330 fleet is scheduled to have Wi-Fi installed mid-next year, in time for the airline's initial deployment of long haul services. CEB's A330 fleet, planned for introduction in the third quarter of 2013, will allow Cebu Pacific to provide direct, non-stop flights to regions within the aircraft's 11-hour flying range including the Middle East, Australia, parts of Europe and the U.S.
Manila-based Cebu Pacific will be the first long-haul, Low Cost Carrier in South East Asia to provide inflight Internet access.
"Cebu Pacific has a highly social community of over 600,000 likes on Facebook and over 380,000 Twitter followers. We are very happy to provide our guests with the convenience of online connectivity while in-flight. CEB can now engage passengers through innovative web-based solutions that will further enhance their flying experience with us," said Candice Iyog, CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution.
"Cebu Pacific's focus on social media makes inflight connectivity an obvious option, both so that passengers can stay connected throughout their journey, and so the airline can continue reaching its passengers," said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. "Cebu Pacific is OnAir's first low-cost, long-range Wi-Fi client in Asia. As the air transport market develops, we expect to see more LCCs operating long-haul routes and there is no doubt they will want to provide connectivity."
OnAir's use of Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband, combined with the most extensive network of regulatory approvals and roaming agreements, means its services are available around the world.
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Cebu Pacific Air, Cebu Pacific Air Wi-Fi, OnAir, OnAir customers
ANA To Provide OnAir Inflight Wi-Fi On Its International Routes
Tokyo and Geneva | June 22, 2012 — ANA today announces that from summer 2013, Wi-Fi will be available on its international routes. The service will initially be made available on ANA B777-300ER and B767-300ER fleets serving ANA's international network. The OnAir Wi-Fi service, 'Internet OnAir', will work in the same way as a Wi-Fi hotspot on the ground.
Tetsuo FUKUDA, Senior Vice President of CS & Products Services and Innovations, ANA commented on the launch: "ANA is delighted to announce the launch of OnAir Wi-Fi on its international routes. The service will offer passengers a new inflight experience, giving them the flexibility and choice they deserve. We look forward to working with OnAir on this project. OnAir has a wealth of experience in handling large scale fleet programs and delivering end-to-end connectivity solutions for multiple aircraft types."
Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir commented: "ANA is a world-class airline, recognized for the high quality of its service. ANA's decision to choose OnAir's SBB-based Wi-Fi product demonstrates that the combination of OnAir and SBB is the best solution for passenger connectivity and cements OnAir's position as the benchmark for global inflight connectivity solutions."
Internet OnAir provides consistent global coverage, with a combination of over 80 regulatory authorizations, as well as its use of Inmarsat's I4 SBB network.
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with ANA inflight Wi-Fi, OnAir, OnAir customers
Emirates Launches A380 Connectivity
Wi-Fi In The Sky Begins On 11 Emirates A380s, With More To Come.
December 13, 2011 —Customers on a growing number of Emirates A380s can now surf, share, email, or tweet their way across the Emirates network as the airline launches Wi-Fi internet connectivity with leading industry service provider, OnAir.
Customers can access the service of the Wi-Fi in the sky onboard their flight using their Wi Fi enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops. All customers have to do is open up their device's wireless connections, log on to the OnAir network and follow the simple steps to access the internet. As part of a proving phase, customers onboard many A380 flights have been using the service for many months already as the system was installed and activated on the first few A380s last year.
"Emirates recognises that being connected inflight is increasingly important especially on our longer flights. Adding internet access is going to be a vital and ubiquitous part of any inflight experience, just as it is in everyday life on the ground," said Patrick Brannelly, Vice President Corporate Communications Product, Publishing, Digital and Events. "As a result of our testing, we were able to learn a lot about what people like to do with the internet inflight and are pleased to be able to launch with very affordable pricing options."
"Emirates has led the way in mobile phone use onboard with 91 aircraft currently allowing the service," he added. "We are obviously delighted to launch OnAir Wi-Fi on our A380 Aircraft and we will continue to invest in additional communications products across our entire fleet."
Wi-Fi services will initially launch on 11 of 19 Emirates A380s currently in-service, with the system due to be installed both now and in the future across the entire fleet of 71 Emirates A380s on order. In addition to Wi-Fi, from mid-2012 all new Emirates A380s will be delivered with a full range of Wi-Fi, mobile phone and mobile data services.
"Emirates is continuously introducing the latest advanced technology to its customers for use on board out fleet. Making inflight connectivity available is a value added service that Emirates customers will highly enjoy; this is particularly true of our A380 fleet, since the aircraft is the epitome of modern airline technology," added Adel Al Redha, Emirates Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations. "With the OnAir product onboard, Emirates ensures our passengers will enjoy being connected in the sky on our most advanced aircraft."
Price plans start at just US $7.50 for mobile devices and US $15 on laptops for generous data packages that allow plenty of internet at an accessible price. The US $7.50 package should be sufficient for the average Blackberry user to stay connected all the way from Dubai to Paris – a flight of over six and one half hours.
"The fact that Emirates has chosen OnAir connectivity services for its A380 fleet validates our strategy of developing a SwiftBroadband-based consistent global service. With the significant expansion of the Emirates A380 aircraft and global route network, it is important for passengers to access connectivity services anytime and anywhere," said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir.
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Emirates In-Flight Service, Emirates Wi-Fi, Inflight Connectivity, OnAir customers, OnAir inflight connectivity service
Oman Air Wins Prestigious Inflight Connectivity Award For Its OnAir Service
Geneva, Switzerland | October 3, 2011 — OnAir is delighted to congratulate Oman Air on being given the Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications Award by the Airline Passenger Experience Association. The award, one of the Passenger Choice Awards, was voted for by passengers and the winners were announced at the APEX Expo in Seattle on 12 September 2011.
Oman Air has been operating Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir solutions since March 2010. The services enable passengers to use their own mobile devices for phone call, text messaging, emailing, and to the access the Internet, either through the plane's mobile phone network or inflight WiFi. Oman Air was the first airline to launch the combination of both solutions.
Abdulaziz Al Raissi, Chief Officer for Management of Oman Air, said, "our aim is to exceed our customers' expectations by being a first class airline. We are clearly succeeding with our passenger connectivity services. This award is particularly gratifying because it was voted for by passengers. They use our connectivity services every day, so they are the ones who really know what it is like".
In the eighteen months since Oman Air was the launch customer of OnAir's joint mobile phone and Internet service, some very clear patterns have emerged about passengers' use of inflight connectivity services, and continued usage has served to reinforce those patterns.
Over 95% of passengers use the mobile phone network – the default for most mobile devices – for calls, text messaging, emailing and mobile data.
Of those passengers buying inflight Internet access, more than half use smartphones or tablets to access the Internet, reinforcing the fact that on planes people prefer to use mobile devices not laptops.
And finally, inflight Internet usage has typically been light, mirroring the way that people communicate when they are on the move. Of the top 20 websites accessed over Internet OnAir's service, Facebook is number one with nearly 40% of all usage.
Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO, said, "Inflight connectivity is here to stay. It is striking that airlines are beginning to report that passengers specifically ask to fly on aircraft that have inflight connectivity, and are even prepared to change their plans if necessary. Given that proliferation, we are particularly pleased that one of OnAir's customers has won this prestigious award, and we send our congratulations to Oman Air."
Posted by Patricia on Monday, October 3, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with 2011 Inflight Connectivity Awards, Oman Air inflight connectivity, OnAir customers
Kiwi Passengers Stay In-Touch With OnAir
Air New Zealand Extends Inflight Connectivity On Domestic Routes
Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg, April 6, 2011 — Air New Zealand passengers will soon be able to keep in touch on more domestic flights, with the expansion of its inflight connectivity service to an additional two aircraft.
The OnAir inflight mobile phone services means passengers onboard the domestic A320 aircraft can use their mobile phones, for calls, text messaging, email and mobile data, with the service operated via satellite.
The first of Air New Zealand's new domestic A320 fleet,, which features an exclusive black "Crazy about Rugby" livery, was the first aircraft in the country to be equipped with OnAir services in February 2011.
Two aircraft are currently offering the service on selected domestic routes, with the additional two being deployed by the end of this year. This makes Air New Zealand the first Pacific airline to roll out the services on a permanent basis.
Air New Zealand's General Manager Airline Operations Captain David Morgan says this new technology underlines the airline's commitment to provide its customers with innovative solutions to meet their needs.
"Feedback from our customers shows they value being able to stay in touch with work colleagues, friends and family while they are in the air," says Captain Morgan.
"This new inflight technology, which uses an aircraft-based cell site and Inmarsat satellites, will mean our customers onboard our new domestic A320 aircraft will be able to safely use their mobile to stay in touch by text, phone call and email."
"The decision of Air New Zealand to expand our services to two additional domestic aircraft is significant. It shows there is a demand from passengers to be able to make and receive calls, send sms, and check emails in the plane. The agreement also reinforces OnAir's position on all continents by expanding into the Pacific region but also sends another strong signal to the industry that inflight passenger communications has come of age – and is a must-have for airlines looking to remain competitive in the future," said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir.
Posted by Patricia on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Air New Zealand Inflight Service Offering, GSM on aircraft, OnAir customers, onboard email and data services
First Successful Year of Combined GSM & Inflight Internet
Hamburg, Aircraft Interiors Expo, April 5, 2011 — OnAir's combined GSM and inflight Internet services have proven after a successful first year of operation that SwiftBroadband provides more than enough capacity to meet passenger needs.
The combined Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir services, first launched by Oman Air in March 2010, are also operating on Saudi Arabian Airlines and Egyptair. They allow airline passengers to use their mobile devices in the same way as international roaming or to tap into an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot.
"We are seeing that people communicate during flights in exactly the same way as when they are on a train, in a taxi or at the airport," said Ian Dawkins, Chief Executive Officer of OnAir. Of passengers accessing the service, 95 percent use the GSM service options rather than logging into the hotspot, our survey shows.
"Passengers predominantly use their mobile devices for calls, text messaging and email, as well as mobile data. More than half of the passengers who bought inflight Internet access used their tablet or smart phone, rather than a laptop, showing that people like the convenience of using their own, familiar, handheld devices."
"We are all becoming more and more dependent on our mobile phones so it is natural that people want to continue using them during flights," Dawkins said. "The OnAir GSM services couldn't be more straightforward: just turn your phone on and use it." There is no need to enter credit card details because the costs are billed by the passenger's mobile operator in the regular bill.
When passengers have bought access to the inflight Internet, bandwidth consumption has typically been light, mirroring the way that people communicate on the ground when roaming. Of the top 20 websites accessed over OnAir's inflight Internet service, Facebook is number one with nearly 40% of all usage. To put that into perspective, the second-ranked website is Google, with only 10%.
OnAir's combined GSM and inflight Internet services are in operation with Oman Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Egypt Air and will be launched with Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot and Libyan Airlines later this year.
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with EgyptAir inflight Service, Inflight GSM service, Inflight Internet Service, Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, OnAir customers, OnAir service offering
OnAir Chooses Aeroconseil To Equip Singapore Airlines B777s With Onboard GSM & Wi-Fi Technology
Hamburg, Aircraft Interiors Expo, 4 April 2011 — OnAir and Aeroconseil will, in the coming months, begin fitting nineteen B777 aircraft from the Singapore Airlines fleet with onboard GSM and Wi-Fi technology. Aeroconseil will cover the engineering and certification aspects of the changes alongside OnAir, which is providing equipment and the connectivity services to passengers' mobile devices.
OnAir and Aeroconseil are working together on this major project to implement the communication systems for the long-haul fleet of their customer, Singapore Airlines.
Connectivity on board as easy as on ground
This project responds to the ambition of Singapore Airlines to offer its passengers a range of innovative services for maximum connectivity and therefore an extensive gateway to the outside world while travelling aboard its aircraft. To do this, the company will provide its customers with the latest tools for accessing wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) and mobile telephony services.
This technology provided by OnAir leverages Inmarsat SBB services.
"OnAir is delighted to work with Aeroconseil, which has an established reputation in the design and certification of inflight connectivity STCs. It is clear airline passengers increasingly expect to be able to use their mobile devices for calls, texting, emails and mobile data during flights. A seamless transition is growing between how we stay in touch in a taxi, on the train, at the airport and on the plane. As OnAir's customer base expands to help airlines meet those passenger demands, we will continue to partner with expert specialists such as Aeroconseil," says Ian Dawkins, Chief Executive Officer of OnAir.
The ability to share expertise in aircraft modification
The new technology is being installed thanks to Aeroconseil's acknowledged expertise, particularly in the design and certification of such systems, an area in which Aeroconseil is a world leader.
Indeed, owing to its DOA (Design Organisation Approval) status, which means it can provide support up to certification of themodifications, Aeroconseil has quickly established itself as a reference partner for the leading providers of in-flight communications services, a sector in which OnAir is a key player.
"This contract acknowledges our ability to position ourselves at the forefront for new systems. Building on our proven skills in engineering and our expertise in certification, we are able to cater for even the most complex and innovative changes with strong implications for the aircraft environment," says Stéphane Bollon, Sales Director in charge of the Air Transport activity at Aeroconseil.
Posted by Patricia on Monday, April 4, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Aerocnseil enginnering and certification services, OnAir customers, Onboard GSM telephony service, onboard Wi-Fi, Sinagpore Airlines Service Offering