Three further airlines have signed up to an IT system offering inflight phone connection and wifi.
Kuwait Airways has signed up to OnAir for its 12 new aircraft as part of its privatization and complete fleet upgrade, delivered from December.
The aircraft will be line fitted with Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir which allows customers to use wifi as well as phone, text and email from their phone.
TAAG Angola Airlines has become OnAir’s first Sub-Saharan African customer, introducing the technology on its new fleet and Sri Lankan Airlines, which is due to join the oneworld alliance on 1 May, is installing the system on six new aircraft as it renews its long-haul fleet.
OnAir, which is owned by SITA, the IT solutions provider to the air transport world, has regulatory approvals from over 100 countries as well as more than 375 roaming agreements.
Like a wifi hotspot on the ground, passengers log on and their enter credit card details before surfing the Internet.
Passengers can also use Mobile OnAir, to email, text, talk, and use their mobile apps as they please. Charges are included in the user’s monthly phone bill, exactly like using international roaming.
