Geneva | February 6, 2017– Airline passengers flying to and from the Ivory Coast can now expect a connected experience, as national airline, Air Cote d’Ivoire (VRE), signs up for inflight passenger connectivity services from world-leading provider SITAONAIR.

The new deal will deliver connectivity solutions to VRE’s brand new A320s, in the form of SITAONAIR’s Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR products.

With Internet ONAIR onboard, airlines can offer passengers seamless inflight internet access, connecting their personal devices by opening a browser – just as they would with a public Wi-Fi hotspot.

Airlines can use Internet ONAIR to personalize their passenger relationships by developing a portal that can offer an interactive and engaging experience for the passenger. It also offers opportunities for airlines to grow their ancillary revenues.

Mobile ONAIR, meanwhile, offers passengers an airborne mobile phone service that enables them to make phone calls, send texts and use their mobile phone data inflight, through an extensive number of roaming partners in Africa and across the world.

In June 2017, SITAONAIR’s teams will begin activating Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR on five new Air Côte d’Ivoire A320s equipped with Airbus’ Airline Network Architecture (ALNA) server platform. The services will make use of SwiftBroadband, an IP-based data service from Inmarsat that SITAONAIR, as distributor, will operate as service provider.

The project is set for completion in 2019, when Air Côte d’Ivoire (VRE) will take delivery of the last of the five new A320s.

Stephan Egli, Commercial Regional VP for the Middle East and Africa, SITAONAIR, said: “We are very proud to be helping Air Cote d’Ivoire to deliver a brand-new fleet of A320s with the quality inflight connectivity services passengers increasingly demand.

“With the first five of Africa’s airlines to achieve inflight connectivity in the continent using SITAONAIR as their service provider of choice, VRE is part of an inflight connectivity revolution gaining momentum across Africa, as the airlines in the region look to offer the same quality of product for passengers as other regions like their Middle East neighbours.”

René Decurey, CEO of Air Côte d’Ivoire, said: “As the Ivory Coast’s national airline, we are very much at the frontline of passenger demand as it takes shape. Passengers are telling us they want access to internet connectivity from ground-to-air, to enable them to sustain their online lives, wherever they fly. With SITAONAIR’s trusted expertise and industry standing, and with Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR on board, we will be able to give our passengers what they want.”

For more information about the above products, and to discover the full SITAONAIR product and service range, visit www.sitaonair.aero

• Ushering in a new era of Sri Lankan aviation

Geneva | November 13, 2014– SriLankan Airlines’ first fully-connected A330-300 (registration 4R-ALL) entered commercial service on Sunday (9 November, 2014). It is equipped with both Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir. This is an historic moment for SriLankan Airlines, with the national carrier launching a new era of world travel by providing its passengers a more luxurious on-board experience. Putting full inflight connectivity on the aircraft demonstrates the Airline’s growing commitment to redefining the flying experience.

Passengers on board the delivery flight from Toulouse to Colombo, including SriLankan Airlines’ Chief Marketing Officer, G. T. Jeyaseelan, all made special mention of the aircraft’s inflight connectivity.

Once they’ve tweeted from 35,000 feet and told their friends on Facebook that they’re chatting to them live from an aircraft, passengers can knuckle down to send emails or simply continue to browse the web. The combination of Wi-Fi and mobile phone connectivity allows passengers to take a flight without missing a beat.

“We are gearing-up SriLankan to meet the challenges and ever-growing demands of the global travel industry,” said SriLankan Airlines’ Chief Marketing Officer, G. T. Jeyaseelan. “Our new fleet is giving us the opportunity to introduce innovative products and services to enhance the passenger experience. Providing mobile phone and Internet connectivity is a very important element of our superior offering in a highly competitive market.”

Now in service, the aircraft will be deployed on different routes as part of the performance evaluation programme that will last for a period of three months. Consequently, SriLankan Airlines began commercial operations of its newly acquired Airbus 330-300 with a direct non-stop service to London on Sunday.

At the conclusion of the evaluation programme, the Airline will decide on a particular route for the new aircraft, based on passenger volumes, route yields, demand for Business Class, frequency and consistency of the product, as well as the number of aircraft required to support the frequencies to a particular destination. SriLankan is looking to deploy its new A330-300s primarily on Far-Eastern routes including Bangkok, Tokyo and Chinese cities of Canton and Beijing.

OnAir has an unrivalled number of roaming agreements with mobile network operators in the region. Therefore, passengers from both Sri Lanka and other countries can all access to the inflight mobile phone network throughout the flight.

“We provide inflight connectivity across the whole of Asia,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Our unique network of roaming agreements and authorizations from national regulators means OnAir is the leading supplier in the region. We are delighted to be supporting SriLankan Airlines’ drive to break new ground in Sri Lankan aviation.”

• First OnAir European customer to offer GSM and Wi-Fi on Americas routes

Geneva, Switzerland | July 1, 2014– Iberia is now offering OnAir’s inflight connectivity on transatlantic routes. Starting today, Iberia passengers flying between Europe and the Americas can use the inflight Wi-Fi and GSM during the flight.

Iberia is the leading airline on routes to and from Europe and Latin America, with the most flights and destinations between the two continents. The introduction of inflight connectivity is part of the airline’s plan to improve the customer experience.

By 2015, both Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir will be installed on 25 Iberia A330s and A340s. Passengers on these long-haul aircraft can use their phones and tablets to chat, tweet and send text messages.

“There will be no more waiting to update your social media status or wondering what’s happening in the office,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Passengers can be connected on routes across the whole world.”

OnAir provides global coverage, thanks to its unique network of authorizations from over 100 countries and more than 375 roaming agreements, combined with Inmarsat SwiftBroadband’s worldwide satellite coverage. It gives the airline’s passengers exactly the same service wherever they are in the world.

“We’re very pleased that another European airline is now providing our inflight connectivity,” continued Dawkins. “Other regions, particularly the Middle East and Asia, are moving ahead fast with satellite-based connectivity and European carriers are at risk of having to play catch-up. I’m sure this will be the wake-up call they need to start proving what passengers want: the ability to stay in touch during flights.”

Geneva | June 24, 2014– Saudia has become the first airline in the Middle East to offer free Wi-Fi to its first class and business class passengers. The promotion, which started on 19 May, is available on flights between the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia and US destinations, as well as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Dubai.

Saudia’s inflight connectivity is provided by OnAir. The airline is giving all premium passengers vouchers for Internet OnAir, providing free Internet access for the entire flight. In the first few weeks of the promotion, Saudia has seen a dramatic rise in usage figures. The number of people using inflight internet is up 140% across the Saudia fleet and those people are consuming triple the amount of data, compared to figures immediately before the promotion started.

“Internet access has proved to be very popular with all our passengers since we started offering OnAir services nearly four years ago,” said Mr. Abdulmohsen Jonaid, Chief Commercial Officer of Saudia. “We are now breaking new ground by being the first Middle East airline to give free Internet access to our first and business class passengers. We firmly believe other airlines will, in due course, follow our lead.”

OnAir’s SwiftBroadband-based inflight connectivity first flew on Saudia’s A330s in September 2010. Three years later, the airline installed connectivity on more A330s, as well as on its three-class B777 fleet. And it was announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in April that when Saudia’s B787s start flying at the end of 2015, they will also be fully equipped with OnAir connectivity.

“Saudia is already at the forefront of cabin connectivity, providing both Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir, our GSM product, on its long-haul fleets. By giving free inflight connectivity to premium passengers Saudia is really setting the standard.” said Stephan Egli, Chief Commercial Officer of OnAir. “Expanding OnAir connectivity to another fleet shows how much Saudia and its passengers value the ability to stay in touch throughout the flight.”

OnAir’s unique network of authorizations from over 100 countries combined with more than 375 roaming agreements is one of the key reasons Saudia has selected OnAir. It gives the airline’s passengers exactly the same service wherever they are in the world.

• OnAir’s complete wireless inflight entertainment solution boots up aboard Philippine Airlines

Geneva | May 13, 2014– Philippine Airlines is the launch customer of OnAir Play, OnAir’s latest Wireless-IFE product, on all the airline’s new international routes. Philippine Airlines has become the first carrier in Asia-Pacific to provide its passengers with fully integrated connectivity and inflight entertainment.

OnAir Play is revolutionizing the way people consume content during the flight, by combining multimedia inflight entertainment with Internet OnAir. Passengers stream or download the on-demand content they choose to their own personal electronic devices, like they do at home using TV channels’ on-demand apps. And because the W-IFE will be fully integrated with the plane’s connectivity, time-critical information, such as live news and sports highlights, will be constantly updated throughout the flight.

Philippine Airlines’ passengers will be able to choose from a wide selection of movies catering to all type of passengers. The magazines available on the e-reader feature of OnAir Play include Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveller, Vanity Fair, and National Geographic. The next stage is to include the digital version of the duty free catalogue.

OnAir Play is a low-cost, flexible upgrade from OnAir’s existing connectivity products. And it is simple to operate. Airlines can also brand OnAir products to ensure brand consistency across the complete passenger experience.

“We are expanding our long-haul network rapidly, with plans to open routes to Australia, the US and beyond,” said Ramon Ang, President of Philippine Airlines. “We are expanding our fleet and we want to offer the latest cabin entertainment options available. There is no doubt that merging entertainment with connectivity provides a fun way of spending time during the flight. Our passengers can now access the content they want, when they want it, on the device of their choice.”

“OnAir Play is the obvious choice for the airline. It is the right product for today’s passengers who increasingly want the choice of accessing entertainment content on their own personal devices,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir.

OnAir Play will be retro fitted to Philippine Airlines’ A330s, which already have Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir, OnAir’s full GSM and Wi-Fi connectivity package. It is a natural add-on product to OnAir’s connectivity portfolio to be gradually rolled out across the network.

By launching OnAir Play, Philippine Airlines is staying one step ahead of the market.

• OnAir GSM and Wi-Fi to be installed on new A330 fleet

Aircraft Interiors, Hamburg | April 9, 2014 – SriLankan Airlines has signed up for OnAir’s inflight mobile phone and Wi-Fi services. By the autumn, people flying from Colombo to destinations all over the world will be able to email, tweet, send text messages, make calls, and surf the Internet during the flight.

Sri Lanka’s national carrier, due to join the oneworld alliance on 1 May, is renewing its long-haul fleet. Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir will be installed as linefit on the airline’s six new A330-200 aircraft.

“We take pride in providing our passengers with a luxurious and innovative experience, so connectivity is a must for our new aircraft,” said Kapila Chandrasena, CEO of SriLankan Airlines. “Providing Wi-Fi and GSM access is the norm for leading airlines. Our aim is to offer an outstanding service to our passengers. We selected OnAir because it is the only inflight connectivity provider of consistent coverage on all the routes we fly.”

Like more than 30 airlines before, SriLankan Airlines has the Airbus ALNAv2 inflight connectivity system installed on its aircraft. Global connectivity will be powered by Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband satellite network, the only service designed for both mobility and consistent global coverage.

“We’re delighted that SriLankan Airlines has decided to offer its passengers GSM and Wi-Fi while flying. The two services complement each other perfectly, providing exactly the online experience we all expect on the ground,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “It is now the norm for all airlines to include connectivity when they are replacing or upgrading their fleets.”

OnAir is the leading inflight connectivity provider in Asia and the Middle East, with a fast-growing customer base across the two regions. OnAir has regulatory approvals from over 100 countries, as well as roaming agreements with more than 375 mobile network operators. Combined with SwiftBroadband’s worldwide satellite coverage, airlines using OnAir can provide passengers with the same connectivity on every flight.

AIX, Hamburg | April 9, 2014– TAAG Angola Airlines has become OnAir’s first Sub-Saharan African customer – line fitting its new B777-300ER fleet with Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir. The airline will use Thales’ TopConnect to access OnAir’s inflight Wi-Fi and mobile phone services on its new fleet, to be delivered from May 2014.

OnAir offers a consistent, reliable service across Africa and all the routes the airline flies, thanks to the widest-reaching network of regulatory approvals and the largest and most geographically diverse number of roaming agreements of any provider.

With authorizations from over 100 countries and more than 375 roaming agreements, OnAir provides consistent coverage on all the major routes across the world. In addition, OnAir uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband satellite network, the only network to provide worldwide coverage.

“TAAG is an ambitious airline, leading the modernization of air transport in Angola,” said Captain Lourenço Manuel Gomes Neto, Executive Vice President Operations, TAAG Angola Airlines. “OnAir connectivity, in the form of inflight Wi-Fi and GSM, gives our passengers the freedom to stay in touch with the world outside the aircraft, strongly enhancing their experience. The worldwide service reliability is particularly important, given the routes we fly across from and across Africa.”

Passengers flying on TAAG Angola’s B777-300ER will experience the full benefits of OnAir connectivity. The inflight Wi-Fi solution, Internet OnAir, enables passengers to email, update their social media, and browse news sites. Like a Wi-Fi hotspot on the ground, passengers only need to log on and their enter credit card details before they are free to surf the Internet.

Passengers can also use OnAir’s inflight GSM product, 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.

“This new deal with TAAG Angola Airlines shows that cabin connectivity is now a truly global market,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “We are in the strongest position to make inflight connectivity a truly worldwide phenomenon, given the breadth and depth of our regulatory and roaming agreement networks. On top of SwiftBroadband’s consistency across the world, this means we can offer an uncompromised service to all airlines, wherever they might be.”

Aircraft Interiors, Hamburg | April 9, 2014– Kuwait Airways became the tenth Middle East customer to choose OnAir as its connectivity provider, for 12 new aircraft as part of its privatization and complete fleet upgrade. The airline has ordered five A330s and seven A320s, all of which will be line fitted with Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir. The first A320 and first A330 will be delivered in December 2014 and May 2015 respectively.

OnAir is now the pre-eminent provider in the Middle East, which is fast emerging as the leading region in the world for inflight connectivity. This was recognised at Aircraft Interiors Middle East show where OnAir was named Best Connectivity Provider at the Inflight IFEC Awards.

Established in 1954, Kuwait Airways is an international airline flying routes all over the world, needing connectivity coverage wherever it flies. OnAir connectivity uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband global network. Alongside its widespread regulatory coverage, this means OnAir can provide Kuwait Airways’ passengers the same level of service on all of KAC’s network.

Kuwait chose to line fit its new aircraft with Airbus’ ALNAv2 network architecture. This line fitting option is affordable and does not require any additional antennae.

“OnAir was the right offering for us,” said Rasha Al-Roumi – Kuwait Airways Chairperson. “On top of the proven SwiftBroadband service which is available line fit on our new aircraft now, OnAir has GX Aviation capability waiting in the wings. We can offer passengers the connectivity they expect from a leading airline, as well as formulate a plan for the easy transfer to GX Aviation when it is available.”

OnAir’s SwiftBroadband solution has a clear deployment path to GX Aviation, Inmarsat’s imminent high speed network. OnAir’s service is ready for the next major step in inflight connectivity.

“Kuwait Airways chose OnAir because of our proven credentials in the Middle East market,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Only we can deliver the consistent global coverage that passengers want, so they can stay in touch with the family, friends and colleagues throughout their journey.”

Geneva, Switzerland | February 26, 2014–

OnAir’s Wi-Fi connectivity is set to revolutionise ANA’s onboard experience by giving passengers access to a free, constantly refreshed infotainment portal. The portal contains both English and Japanese content, from a range of categories including news, business, arts and culture, technology, and sports. The content is constantly updated via satellite connectivity.

Alongside the infotainment portal, passengers using Internet OnAir will be able to use their smartphone, tablets and laptops to stay in touch with the world 35,000 feet below. They can send emails, update their Facebook page, tweet, and surf the internet and more, just as they would use a hotspot on the ground. ANA is set to launch its OnAir Wi-Fi service on selected international flights.

ANA is a prominent world carrier and is our first customer in Japan. It was voted Airline of the Year for 2013 by Air Transport World. In 2012, it carried 45 million passengers, making it the largest airline in Japan by passenger numbers. ANA flies to 31 international and 50 domestic cities, with a fleet of 232 aircraft serving a network of 175 routes.

ANA has opted for OnAir because it is the only provider offering consistent global coverage. OnAir has a unique network of regulatory authorizations from over 100 countries and more than 350 roaming agreements with mobile network operators. These are complimented by Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, the only satellite network specifically designed to provide consistent global coverage. OnAir’s cost-effective, scalable solutions are ready for future technologies such as GX.

Internet OnAir is being retrofitted to ANA B767-300 and B777-300 aircraft. The service will be provided in partnership with JSAT MOBILE Communications Inc., a joint venture of SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Inmarsat Solutions.  It will be introduced on selected flights between Japan and Asia, before being added onto other European and North American routes.

“We are very excited to be expanding our Asia business,” said Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO. “Passengers now expect to fly in a connected aircraft, and ANA has recognised and acted on this. New services like those which enable passengers to access on demand content and live streaming mean that it is a very exciting time to be introducing connectivity onto your aircraft.”

The ANA announcement also marks the first time a B767-300 has been retrofitted with OnAir services. This means that OnAir’s services are now available on all types of aircraft flown by the world’s major airlines.

Laptop interface: how the portal looks when accessed on a laptop

 

Smartphone interface: the mobile specific version of the portal

– ends –

• OnAir only provider with authorization from Thai authorities

Geneva | February 17, 2014– Thai Airways International (THAI) is launching THAI Sky Connect, which adds inflight connectivity to passenger inflight experience on the airline’s Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft. The connectivity is provided by OnAir.

From mid-February, passengers flying on THAI’s A380s and dedicated A330 flights will be able to log on to the on-board Wi-Fi product, Internet OnAir. It works exactly as a Wi-Fi hotspot on the ground. It is simply a case of entering credit card details, then surfing the Internet, checking emails and updating social media. It is expected that OnAir’s inflight GSM product, Mobile OnAir, will also be available on THAI flights, once the regulatory framework has been determined.

The launch of THAI Sky Connect is possible thanks to THAI being the first airline approved by the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission to provide inflight connectivity in Thailand’s airspace. OnAir is the only provider authorized to deliver inflight Wi-Fi services to airlines in Thailand.

“THAI is pleased to be launching THAI Sky Connect, an inflight WiFi product and service that adds to passenger inflight comfort and convenience on flights operated with Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft in all classes of service,” said Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, THAI Senior Executive Vice President, Commercial Department, and Acting President.  “THAI Sky Connect is offered to THAI passengers on A330-300 and A380-800 aircraft at package rates for laptop/iPad and smartphone usage, with OnAir as the Wi-Fi service provider. This is a positive step forward to bring internet connectivity and modern technology directly to passengers’ fingertips. THAI is pleased to introduce Wi-Fi service on board its flights, which will further improve passengers’ inflight entertainment experience and make travel with THAI even more enjoyable.”

THAI is one of three airlines currently operating OnAir connectivity on the A380; all three also use Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband satellite network. Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir are the only connectivity products currently flying on more than 50 A380s every day.

OnAir has regulatory authorizations from over 100 countries, more than any other inflight connectivity service provider. Combined with its roaming agreements with over 350 mobile network operators, OnAir provides consistent coverage on all the major routes across the world.

“OnAir has a very strong track record in obtaining regulatory approvals – it is one of the key areas in which we stand apart from other providers,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “We are firmly committed to delivering consistent coverage so passengers can be connected with their family, friends and colleagues throughout the flight, wherever they are in the world.”

THAI is the 20^th airline to operate OnAir connectivity and the seventh in Asia. Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir are widely available across the world and are used by over four and a half million passengers each year.

Geneva, Switzerland | February 5, 2014– The number of passengers using inflight connectivity on Oman Air’s OnAir-equipped Airbus A330s has increased dramatically in the past year, as has the volume of data exchanged. The airline has seven A330s fitted with both Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir.

From 2012 to 2013, the number of Oman Air’s passengers logging on to the OnAir networks increased by 45%, and 85% more data was used.

Oman Air has worked on increasing usage by implementing a series of creative new marketing initiatives. These have included a promotion allowing passengers to use Frequent Flyer miles to purchase Wi-Fi codes, as well as offering free vouchers to First and Business class passengers in three or four different periods throughout the year. The airline has also included a promotional advertising campaign and a clip about Mobile OnAir before every film.

OnAir predicts that Oman Air will see a doubling of Wi-Fi usage in 2014, thanks to its innovative approach to marketing and providing passengers with value-added services around connectivity. The usage figures show that when passengers know about the service, there is a great demand for it. It also shows that OnAir connectivity can meet both customer expectations and increasing demand.

“Having been the first airline in the world to offer both services, Oman Air has now been providing Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir for over four years. We also have plans for adding the services to more aircraft, as our fleet grows over the next few years,” said Andrew Walsh, Chief Officer Service Delivery at Oman Air. “Our customers have warmly welcomed the services and, thanks to our creative and proactive approach to marketing onboard connectivity, we have seen a big growth in passenger usage in 2013. We actively encourage passengers to use Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir and we are confident that both will continue to meet service expectations.”

Oman Air has opted for OnAir because it is the only provider offering consistent global coverage. OnAir has a unique network of regulatory authorizations from over 100 countries and more than 350 roaming agreements with mobile network operators. These are complemented by Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, the only satellite network specifically designed to provide worldwide coverage.

“We are always excited to see passengers making the most of the services we provide. It’s clear that Oman Air, having pioneered full onboard connectivity, has used several appealing marketing initiatives to encourage users to connect to the inflight GSM and Wi-Fi,” said Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO. “The usage numbers show passengers are using the service again and again, so they must recognise that it more than lives up to its reputation. Passengers now expect to fly in a connected aircraft, making inflight connectivity a must-have.”

• Indonesia’s Flag Carrier introduces OnAir inflight connectivity

Geneva, Switzerland | January 24, 2014–As of today, passengers flying with Garuda Indonesia, which won World Best Economy Class at the Skytrax World Airline Awards last year, can use OnAir’s inflight Wi-Fi product, Internet OnAir, throughout the flight. They can visit their favourite websites, work on email, and keep up to date on social media. The Wi-Fi service is provided through arrangements made with OnAir’s chosen strategic partner, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom Indonesia), state owned enterprise company in Indonesia with business portfolio TIMES (Telecommunication, Information, Media, Edutainment & Services).

Indonesia’s national airline flies to 33 domestic and 18 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and Europe, and carried more than 20 million passengers in 2012. OnAir’s services have been installed on Garuda’s existing A330 aircraft and will also be installed on its A330s currently on order.  OnAir anticipates adding Mobile OnAir, its GSM service, upon the establishment of an appropriate framework by Indonesian regulatory authorities.

“We are happy to introduce the high quality of our cabin services, and particularly our inflight entertainment,” said Faik Fahmi, Director of Service of Garuda Indonesia. “We focus very strongly on providing a very high quality service through “Garuda Indonesia Experience” which deeply rooted in the rich traditions of our national culture. There is no question that the very best modern flying experience must include inflight connectivity and that the connectivity, like all our services, needs to be the same high level wherever we fly: that is a key reason why we chose OnAir. We are very pleased to be leading the way by being one of the first airlines in the region to provide these services.”

OnAir is the world’s leading provider of inflight connectivity. It is the only company able to offer consistent global coverage because it has a unique network of regulatory authorizations from over 100 countries, including the only licence to operate in Australian airspace, and more than 350 roaming agreements with mobile network operators. Also, OnAir uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband network, the only satellite technology designed for global mobility.

“Garuda Indonesia is a very ambitious airline seeking to stay at the front of the pack by being an early adopter of inflight connectivity,” said Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO.

“We have now reached the point whereby inflight connectivity is a must-have service across the world. In 2014, we expect to see acceleration in interest from airlines, the number of contracts we sign and, most importantly, deployment like today’s service launch with Garuda Indonesia.”

OnAir is the only provider operating the joint Wi-Fi and mobile phone service. It is flying with a wide range of airlines in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America. In total, 20 airlines operate OnAir connectivity, more than any other inflight connectivity provider.

• Airline celebrates 1,000,000^th Facebook followers and five new connectivity-equipped B777-300ERs

Geneva, Switzerland | January 20, 2014–

 Saudia is celebrating its one millionth Facebook follower by giving passengers free inflight Wi-Fi sessions. For January, passengers flying on Saudia’s OnAir-equipped Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s will be able to use the Internet for free during their flight.

To receive the promotional code said Mr. Hazem Sonbol GM E-commerce of Saudia, passengers simply need to enter their flight details into Saudia’s Facebook app to make sure the aircraft has Internet OnAir. Saudia will then send the code by email. Once on board, the passenger uses the code to log on to the Wi-Fi hotspot (called Saudia OnAir) to access the Internet, check emails, read the news and update social media.

“Saudia has been providing OnAir inflight connectivity for over three years with more than 16 aircraft equipped with connectivity solutions and future plans for expansion and adding more aircrafts into the service. And it is proving very popular with our passengers,” said Mr. Tarik Sindi VP Marketing and Product management of Saudia. “This Facebook campaign has been running for only a few days and has already been liked by over 8,000 people. Comments such as ‘I love this too much’, ‘Awesome’ and ‘Wow’ sum up just how much people welcome connectivity.”

“This is the first time an airline has given away free Internet OnAir sessions using Facebook,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Campaigns like this are doable because OnAir connectivity is available on all commercial aircraft types and across entire fleets. It shows that inflight connectivity has become a mainstream part of the passenger experience.”

The free inflight Wi-Fi promotion will run until the end of January 2014 and will be available in different destinations.

Saudia’s Facebook promotion

 

– Amjet Executive takes delivery of fully connected aircraft

EBACE, Geneva | May 21, 2013– Amjet Executive SA is the first Falcon 7X operator to have OnAir’s inflight mobile phone and Wi-Fi products linefit installed on Dassault’s flagship aircraft.

OnAir announced the availability of Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir as catalogue options on the Falcon 7X at MEBA, in December 2012. The connectivity services on the European business jet operator’s brand new aircraft were activated on 1 May 2013.

Amjet Executive, which is exhibiting one of its aircraft at EBACE, provides charter services from its Geneva-based office. It also manages the operations and maintenance of aircraft on behalf of owners. The company took delivery of the Falcon 7X, registered SX-JET, from Dassault’s facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, on 26 April.

“It is certainly a pleasure to fly on our aircraft, but it must also be productive time. Your office needs to go with you and an integral part of that is being able to stay in touch, both by phone and email, as if you were on the ground,” said Captain Abakar Manany, Chairman of Amjet Executive SA. “We selected OnAir because it is the only company that can provide both GSM and Wi-Fi connectivity for business jets, everywhere in the world.”

Mobile OnAir enables business jet passengers to use their mobile devices exactly as on the ground. It works in the same way as international roaming: simply turn on your phone and start using it. All charges are included in the user’s standard mobile phone bill, making the payment process both simple and transparent.

Internet OnAir creates a Wi-Fi network in the aircraft, providing Internet access through any Wi-Fi-enabled device, including smartphones, tablets and laptops.

“Just five months after our linefit agreement with Dassault, we are now announcing the first delivery. It shows both the high level demand for inflight connectivity in the business jet market and that we deliver on our promises”, said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “More than ever, given the economic climate, a business jet has to be a quantifiable business tool. Passengers must be able to work during the flight. For that to happen, they need to be able to use their mobile phones and laptops as if they were at their desks. That is what OnAir delivers.”

Aircraft Interiors Hamburg | April 9, 2013– Saudia is expanding its inflight connectivity programme on routes between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and most of Saudia worldwide destinations. This comes after Saudia has been providing OnAir’s GSM and Wi-Fi on its A330s for nearly three years.

Saudia’s passengers have taken to social media to say how much they value staying in touch with family, friends and colleagues, updating social media and surfing the Internet during flights. Comments have included: ‘Thanks, it’s very good because it’s easy to use’; ‘I used my mobile on a flight today: excellent’; and, ‘Awesome: keep going’.

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 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. Both fleets will use Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband, the only satellite network designed specifically to provide consistent global coverage.

“Our experience has shown very clearly that passengers want to be able to use their phones, tablets and laptops to stay in touch during flights. That alone is a good enough reason to provide connectivity more widely because we value customer satisfaction very highly”, said Mr. Tarik Sindi, VP Marketing & Product Management of Saudia.

The Connected Aircraft
OnAir is building on its heritage of passenger connectivity by optimizing the use of inflight connectivity pipe, providing applications for cabin crew and the cockpit which help streamline airline operations.

“The future of connectivity is very exciting. There is much more to it than connectivity for the passenger”, said Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO. “Airlines run highly automated, complex IT systems. However, the interface between the crew and the ground relies heavily on paper. That is outdated, slow, inefficient and expensive. We help airlines utilise their IT better, using the connectivity pipe to make operations much more efficient.”

– Inflight GSM and Wi-Fi on 27 aircraft

Geneva, Switzerland | April 2, 2013– Philippine Airlines (PAL) has become OnAir’s Fiftieth Connectivity Customer.

PAL is the first airline from the Philippines to offer its passengers both GSM and Wi-Fi Internet, giving them the choice to call, text, tweet, email and surf the Internet as they fly across Philippine Airlines’ extensive network in Asia Pacific, Australasia and U.S.

PAL is expanding fast, growing its route network, as well as building up and renewing its fleet. A major pillar of its state-of-the-art passenger experience is inflight connectivity. After a thorough market evaluation, PAL selected OnAir’s joint GSM and Wi-Fi service, the first combined service flying since 2010.

“As a leading airline, it is clear we must enable our passengers to remain in touch during flights. It is an absolute requirement for today’s travellers in providing the very best service,” said Ramon Ang, President of Philippine Airlines. “The two most important criteria to us and for our passengers are to have a service that is global and of high quality wherever we fly, and a flexibility to suit the needs of all passengers.”

Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir will be retrofitted on Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A330-343 and Boeing B777-300ERs, starting next month, and the global GSM and Wi-Fi service is expected to be launched from mid-year.

“Passengers use of the inflight GSM and Wi-Fi networks mirrors behaviour on the ground, which is why having both is so important,” said Ian Dawkins, OnAir CEO. “When both GSM and Wi-Fi are available, over 80% 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.”

Philippine Airlines can provide consistent connectivity on all its flights because of OnAir’s unique coverage. It 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.

Meba, Dubai | December 10, 2012– OnAir’s inflight connectivity is, for the first time, now a linefit option for buyers of Dassault’s iconic Falcon 7X. The first Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir equipped Falcon 7X will be available for delivery in 2014 and owners may linefit either or both services.

The Falcon 7X, which has been in service for five years, is Dassault’s flagship business jet. Over 150 are currently in service, and the 200th is due for delivery in 2013. Since its launch in 2007, the Falcon 7X’s cabin has undergone regular developments to ensure it continues to exceed owners’ and passengers’ needs and expectations.

OnAir offers the most complete passenger communications solutions ever deployed on a large-cabin long-range business jet, all of which can now be installed during production. The airborne system, GSMConneX, designed and produced by TriaGnoSys, consists of just two lightweight units. It is fully compatible with any SwiftBroadband-capable satcom system.

Mobile OnAir enables business jet owners, their guests and the crew to make and receive calls, text messages and emails, as well as surf the Internet using their mobile phones. It works in the same way as international roaming: simply turn on your phone and start using it. All charges are included in the user’s standard mobile phone bill, making the payment process both simple and transparent.

Internet OnAir creates a Wi-Fi network in the aircraft, providing Internet access through any Wi-Fi-enabled device, including smartphones, tablets and laptops.

“Business moves so quickly that being disconnected when flying is no longer an option for our customers. We have developed the Falcon 7X’s cabin options to offer the best possible connectivity available today,” said Eric Monsel, Vice President of Programs for Dassault Falcon.

“OnAir is leading the global inflight connectivity market”, said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Our products are already available as linefit on many commercial aircraft, as well as being available for a range of business jets. By making OnAir available as a linefit option on the Falcon 7X, Dassault is clearly setting the pace for inflight connectivity on business jets.”

Dawkins continued, “OnAir is ideal for Dassault’s customers because it is simple to use. What could be easier than turning on your phone? You have access to all your contacts, you use your normal number and no one need know where you are.”

Axel Jahn, Managing Director of TriaGnoSys, said, “Our hardware is ideal for aircraft of all sizes though it is particularly appropriate for business jets. We designed it to be very simple to install, with unrestricted mounting options, meaning it can go anywhere on the plane. And the combined equipment weighs less than 15kg, making it the smallest, as well as the most comprehensive, inflight connectivity hardware available.”

Geneva, Switzerland | November 29, 2011 — OnAir will be an Inmarsat Distribution Partner for Global XpressTM, the first global Ka-band network to provide inflight broadband connectivity for the aeronautical market.

OnAir currently uses Inmarsat SwiftBroadband (SBB) to provide the connectivity for Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir, and has been working with Inmarsat over a period of time on a seamless upgrade path from SBB to GX.

“We are delighted to be working with Inmarsat to bring passengers the next generation of inflight connectivity,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “That passengers want inflight connectivity is beyond doubt. The provision of a consistent global service is particularly important for our customers, so that they know exactly what to expect, wherever and whenever they fly.”

Global Xpress will operate in the Ka-band, and thus will provide users with significantly higher throughput than other satellite solutions, including the current generation technology based on Ku-band. This improved performance, combined with superior economics for both services and equipment and complete coverage of air routes, positions Global Xpress to support broad introduction of connectivity services to passengers and airlines on a sustainable basis across their entire fleets.

“We have a very strong history with OnAir,” said Leo Mondale, Managing Director of Inmarsat GX. “OnAir was appointed our first SwiftBroadband Distribution Partner back in 2006, and in 2009 was given an award for being the greatest contributor to SBB growth. OnAir has demonstrated its ability to integrate Inmarsat technology and services into attractive solutions for the aviation market, and we’re delighted to extend the relationship to include Global Xpress’s broadband services. The partnership with OnAir represents another major step toward realizing the next generation in aviation connectivity, which we’ll begin offering commercially in 2013.”

This agreement enables OnAir, a leading provider global SBB services for commercial airlines, governmental and business aircraft, to remain at the forefront of the sector, while ensuring that the business becomes the benchmark for industry solutions.

OnAir is planning to offer Global Xpress services to its customers starting in 2013.

APEX Annual Conference, Seattle, 12 September 2011 — OnAir has strengthened its North American operation with the appointment of Richard Nordstrom as Managing Director for North America.

Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir, said, “Richard’s main priority is to develop OnAir’s business in North America and he joins us at an interesting time. It is now very clear that passengers welcome inflight connectivity and North American airlines recognize they need a satellite connection if they are going to provide passenger connectivity on international flights. And I very much hope the US will soon catch up with the rest of the world and allow inflight mobile phone services. Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir are offered by 12 airlines, operating from six continents, and we haven’t seen a single problem arising from people using their phones. The US position is making them less competitive with fast growing international airlines outside the US.”

Nordstrom is a veteran of the satellite communication market for both the air transport and maritime sectors. In maritime, he was Sales and Marketing Director at Connexion by Boeing and a strategic consultant to satellites providers for their aviation market. He was instrumental in the development of underwater wireless communications systems and their integration with surface systems, and managed a national VHF telecoms network buildout for the US Coast Guard and maritime industry.

Nordstrom said, “It is clear now, that passenger connectivity will become mainstream, and that OnAir, which is unique with its global reach, is very well placed to build on its position as the leading global inflight connectivity services provider. Engaging the US market is integral to ensuring we retain our position and I am very much looking forward to the challenge.”

OnAir’s US office is in Seattle, WA. The company headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland and other offices are in Dubai, London and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.