In a statement, PAL said Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir will be retrofitted on the flag carrier's Airbus A330-343s and Boeing B777-300ERs starting next month.
The global GSM and Wi-Fi services will be launched by mid-year.
“As the country's leading airline, we must enable our passengers to stay in touch during flights. Connectivity is an absolute requirement for today’s travellers,” Ramon S. Ang, PAL president and chief operating officer said.
“It’s important for us and our customers to have a service that is global, of high quality and flexible enough to suit the needs of all passengers,” he added.
PAL is confident it can provide consistent connectivity on all flights using the A330 and B777 because of OnAir’s unique coverage.
OnAir has regulatory approvals from over 90 countries, as well as roaming agreements with more than 350 mobile network operators. Also, OnAir uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband network, the only one designed specifically to provide worldwide satellite coverage.
“Passenger use of the inflight GSM and Wi-Fi networks mirrors behavior on the ground, which is why having both is so important,” Ian Dawkins, OnAir chief executive said.
“When both GSM and Wi-Fi are available, over 90 percent of passengers use GSM. Simply turn on your phone or tablet and use it for calls, text messages, emails, updating Facebook and Twitter, as well as the Internet. No need to enter your credit card details because the costs are included in your mobile phone bill, as with international roaming. People typically use the Wi-Fi for business. It is more suitable for heavier email and Internet usage. We give passengers the choice,” Dawkins said.
Last year, Cebu Pacific also partnered with OnAir to provide Wi-Fi service to passengers in the budget airline's Airbus A330 fleet. Under the next phase, the airline also has the option to install Wi-Fi on its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, for short haul flights.
Cebu Pacific had said that its A330 fleet is scheduled to have Wi-Fi installed middle of this year, in time for the airline’s initial deployment of long haul services.
The airline's A330 fleet, planned for introduction in the third quarter, 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 US.
source: interaksyon.com
