Hamburg, DE | April 5, 2017– SITAONAIR is to pioneer inflight mobile services using high-speed broadband connectivity in an aviation industry first, the company has announced.

The world-leading inflight mobile service provider will deploy cutting-edge inflight 3.5G mobile network services over the high-speed broadband satellite connectivity of GX Aviation. Enhanced 3.5G capabilities will be available to all airlines through SITAONAIR’s popular Mobile ONAIR application by the end of 2017.

There is an insatiable hunger for inflight cellular connectivity, with 19 million passengers opting to connect to SITAONAIR’s inflight mobile services last year. This new technology will provide passengers and crew with high-speed, seamless connectivity, similar to the home experience.

In addition, SITAONAIR has established a wide-ranging deal with worldwide mobile operators to give passengers stress-free data bundles, simplifying billing through unlimited data usage and capped costs. It will also provide a potential opportunity for airlines to boost ancillary revenues through providing access to different revenue streams by monetizing the cellular service.

Francois-Xavier Mateo, SITAONAIR’s Head of Cabin, said: “SITAONAIR is the very first in the industry to be introducing future-proof inflight cellular technologies over GX Aviation. This announcement is a significant and exciting development for inflight mobile services.

“In 2016, an impressive 19 million airline passengers chose to connect to SITAONAIR’s inflight cellular network. By December this year, Mobile ONAIR will be delivering its enhanced broadband-based mobile experience for airline passengers.”

The future of mobile communications will continue to evolve with the rise of the Internet of Things market. By 2020 it is thought between 50-100 billion devices, including cellular based devices, will be connected to the internet. SITAONAIR, with its technology partners, is anticipating the coming revolution of the Internet of Things with its live 4G and 5G-ready mobile core network.

SITAONAIR would like to thank its chosen partners for their role in developing its solution:

• MonacoTelecom for providing a 2G, 3.5G, 4G and 5G-ready mobile core network
• Zodiac In-Flight Innovations, who will provide the next-generation airborne system
• Aricent and ip.Access, suppliers of the radio access network elements
• Axiros, who will provide, manage and troubleshoot inflight connectivity base stations using its AXESS.ACS platform.

Martin Peronnet, Monaco Telecom’s CEO, said: “Monaco Telecom is proud to contribute to SITAONAIR’s strategy helping it to build on its position as the undisputed world-leading inflight mobile service provider. Over the years we have made tremendous progress together to deliver world-class quality inflight telecommunications. The launch of SITAONAIR 3.5G mobile service using our future-proof core network infrastructure is a new major milestone in our partnership.“

Matt Smith, CEO of Zodiac In-Flight Innovations, added: “We are pleased to be partnering with SITAONAIR and providing them our proven hardware and software products including wireless streaming, GSM and now broadband (KA) as well as 3.5G connectivity systems. We look forward to a continued relationship and the first Ka-band and 3.5G installations later this year.”

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

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

• Mobile OnAir usage doubled last year

Aircraft Interiors Middle East, Dubai | February 3, 2015– SITA OnAir is celebrating another successful year with 13 million people taking advantage of Mobile OnAir in 2014. The inflight mobile phone service, Mobile OnAir is now flying on 15 airlines worldwide. Over the year, 37% of passengers flying OnAir-equipped aircraft connected to the inflight network.

The demand for mobile connectivity has never been higher, with 80% of passengers carrying smartphones. In 2014, mobile data was the most popular service, used by 65% of the passengers who connected to OnAir’s onboard mobile network; mobile data includes email, social media updates and surfing the Internet. Text messaging accounted for 31% of usage and phone calls made up 21%. Many passengers use Mobile OnAir for all three activities, as people do on the ground. Over the coming years, mobile data usage will continue to grow, driven by smartphone penetration. Voice also remains an important service, especially for business passengers.

There are some surprising regional differences. Standout examples include 58% of Egyptian users choosing to make phone calls, 82% of passengers from the Philippines using text messaging, and 84% of UK users sending emails over Mobile OnAir.

“People want to use their phones everywhere, including during flights, and Mobile OnAir makes that very simple: just turn on your phone and start using it,” said François Rodriguez, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer of SITA OnAir. “Phones are now such an integral part of our lives, it’s impossible to imagine leaving home without one. These usage numbers show very clearly that people don’t want to switch off at the aircraft door.

“Inflight mobile phone usage is not causing the disruption the naysayers have predicted,” continued Rodriguez.” Millions of people connected inflight on planes last year without a single complaint about noisy phone calls.”

Mobile OnAir usage levels are particularly high because SITA OnAir partners with mobile phone operators across the world to provide the very best deals. The resulting lower prices are made very clear by the phone companies, encouraging people to use the service. For example, one of SITA OnAir’s newest customers is SriLankan Airlines. Dialog Axiata, the leading mobile operato in Sri Lanka, is providing 20MB of free data for its premium customers when they fly on SriLankan. SITA OnAir is developing other similar deals with phone companies across the world.

Mobile OnAir is also highly convenient, which further stimulates usage. As with international roaming, the cost is included in passengers’ regular mobile phone bills, so there is no need to enter credit card details.

SITA OnAir has over 375 roaming agreements, covering 2.6 million mobile phone subscribers.

Mobile OnAir is currently available on flag carriers, as well as other major airlines, including Azerbaijan Airways, British Airways, Egyptair, Emirates, Etihad, Iberia, Libyan Airlines, Oman Air, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and TAAG Angola.

SITA OnAir is the preferred provider of mobile phone services. These airlines make up 63% of all the airlines that offer inflight mobile phone services, making SITA OnAir the firm market leader in the inflight mobile phone market.

Click here for the latest stats on Mobile OnAir usage (http://bit.ly/1uRAWIT)

• 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.

Geneva | June 16, 2014– With the ending of the FCC’s consultation period on the extension of the access to mobile wireless services onboard aircraft, OnAir is once again urging the telecoms regulator, as well as the FAA, to define the legal framework and to give the decision about inflight cell phone usage to airlines. It is also calling on the Federal Government not to pass legislation banning inflight cell phone use.

“The US authorities have three choices,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “You can give the airlines the right tools to allow them to decide what services to offer passengers. You can allow airlines from the rest of the world to offer cell phone services when they are in your airspace. The third option is to try to stop progress with a ban.”

It is clear that inflight connectivity is a growing market in the US, as it is across the world. Skift, the leading travel intelligence company, recently published the results of a survey showing that only 18% of air passengers in the US have used inflight connectivity, suggested a significant potential for growth. The survey also showed that 18-24 year olds are the most likely to use inflight connectivity to communicate with their friends, family and colleagues on the ground.

“People embarking on their careers have grown up being able to stay in touch wherever, whenever and however they want,” said Dawkins. “Tomorrow’s business people don’t want to be out of touch just because they are flying, particularly when there is no reason for imposing a ban.”

The evidence is clear. OnAir provides inflight cell phone and Wi-Fi services to 21 airlines around the world, including leading global airlines such as Aeroflot, British Airways, Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Mobile OnAir, the inflight cell phone service, has flown on millions of flights across the world since 2007, with the full backing of over 100 national authorities. Airlines have the choice of turning off the voice element, leaving mobile data only. They can choose to disable the voice service permanently, or during the plane’s quiet times.

Passengers typically use Mobile OnAir for data – largely email – to update Facebook and Twitter, and for text messaging. Voice calls, which cost around $3-$4 per minute, account for slightly over 10% of total inflight usage and the average call length is under two minutes. Mobile OnAir is currently on around 20,000 flights a month and nearly 700,000 passengers connect to OnAir each month.

Dawkins continued, “Concerns about people using cell phones on planes are misplaced. Mobile OnAir started flying in 2007. Since then, across the world on millions of flights, there hasn’t been a single complaint about disruption caused by people using their cell phones, nor has there been any interference with ground networks or aeronautical systems. And that applies to flights across the world, with people of all nationalities, including Americans.”

OnAir’s is not the only voice calling for airlines to have the choice. The Telecommunications Industry Association, the Information Technology and Industry Council and the Consumer Electronics Association have all called for the authorities to allow carriers to decide what is best for them and for their passengers.

“Passengers have been using their cell phones during flights across the world for nearly seven years,” concluded Dawkins. “The US is at great risk of lagging behind.”

• 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.”

• 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.

Geneva, Switzerland | December 12, 2013–

Ahead of today’s FCC meeting, OnAir  supports the FCC’s proposal  to revise outdated rules by allowing airlines to permit passenger use of cell phones services during flights. It paves the way for U.S. passengers to have the same inflight connectivity choices as passengers everywhere else in the world.

“Over four and a half million passengers use OnAir inflight connectivity each year and what is very striking is that there has not been one single complaint about disruption caused by phone calls,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Mobile OnAir is available on every continent apart from North America. People from all over the world, including Americans, use it every day.”

Passengers typically use Mobile OnAir, OnAir’s inflight cell phone service, for data – largely email – to update Facebook and Twitter, and for text messaging. Voice calls, which cost around $3-$4 per minute, account for slightly over 10% of total inflight usage and the average call length is under two minutes.

“Based on the factual evidence of six years of inflight cell phone usage around the world, I can be absolutely clear that there is nothing to fear from the use of cell phones during flights,” said Dawkins.

Mobile OnAir has flown with more than 25 airlines on hundreds of thousands of flights across the world since 2007, with the full backing of over 100 national authorities.

OnAir’s airline customers include world-leading global airlines such as Aeroflot, British Airways, Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Mobile OnAir is currently on around 16,000 flights a month and 380,000 passengers connect to OnAir each month.

“Since the FCC first announced its plan to change the rules, lots of people in the US have made it clear they think voice calls shouldn’t be allowed on aircraft, including some politicians seeking to impose a draconian ban on inflight calls. We will of course oppose such legislation, based on the facts of six years’ experience,” continued Dawkins. “However, we do understand the concerns: we had exactly the same thoughts when we began developing the service ten years ago. That is why we included a feature that allows the cabin crew and pilots to turn off the voice element, for example during quiet times such as the plane’s night or during safety announcements.”

Positive action by the FCC would clear the technical telecoms hurdles to give airlines the option of installing cellular inflight connectivity systems. Airlines would decide whether to offer voice services, along with email, data, and text; they are in control of what services they offer their passengers. For the first time, U.S. airlines would be able to offer cellular services, as their international competitors have been doing for six years.

 

Geneva, Switzerland | November 22, 2013–

OnAir totally supports the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its move to end the ban on the use of cell phones on aircraft. Mobile OnAir, OnAir’s inflight mobile phone service, has flown with more than 55 airlines on thousands of flights across the world since 2007, with the full backing of over 100 national authorities. There has not been a single complaint about disruption caused by people making calls.

The Tentative Agenda for the FCC meeting on December 12 2013 includes an item that will address the use of mobile communications on commercial aircraft. Should this be passed, the next stage will be a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), opening the way for repeal of the current ban with authority to use frequencies on a secondary, non-interference basis, over all U.S. and international mobile communications bands. As well as the mutual recognition of systems operating on foreign-flagged aircraft meeting equivalent technical standards. Providing for the licensed use of cell phones on aircraft will in turn increase global consumer choice for inflight broadband connectivity.

The FCC’s intention is very clear: give consumers access to inflight cell phone services by revising outdated and restrictive rules.

“Think about how you use your cell phone every day – email, text messages, updating social media, reading newspapers and magazines, as well as answering calls and phoning people. It is important to recognise that the voice element is just another app,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “It is no surprise that inflight usage mirrors terrestrial usage. And because it is so simple – just turn on your phone and use it – around 80 per cent of passengers choose the GSM network when both GSM and Wi-Fi are available.”

“Forget the hyperbole about the chaos inflight cell phone usage could cause,” continued Dawkins. “The issue simply hasn’t arisen anywhere in the world in the past six years. An aircraft is a noisy environment, so the sound of a conversation doesn’t carry very far. Flight attendants can also control the use of Mobile OnAir by disabling the voice element during quiet times, such as the plane’s night. Passengers can still use data – email and text messages, for example – but cannot make or receive calls.”

OnAir’s airline customers which provide Mobile OnAir include world–leading global airlines such as Aeroflot, British Airways, Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Passengers typically use Mobile OnAir for data – largely email – and to update Facebook and Twitter. Voice calls account for slightly over 10% of total inflight usage.

OnAir has over 55 customers, including 18 airlines, around the world. Its technology has been tested rigorously and we have regulatory approvals from approaching 100 national and supranational regulators, including the European Aviation Safety Authority, as well as more than 350 roaming agreements with mobile network operators. It is safe to use cell phones on equipped aircraft and people want the choice of being able to do so.

 

• Bringing GSM and Wi-Fi to world’s longest passenger aircraft

Las Vegas, NV [NBAA 2013] | October 21, 2013– OnAir will provide the fully certified complete range of its inflight connectivity products on Associated Air Center’s (AAC) Boeing B747-800i VVIP completion programme, for an undisclosed customer. This marks the first time Boeing’s flagship aircraft type has been equipped with OnAir’s GSM and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The OnAir solution, comprising both Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir, will be installed by Associated Air Center. The owner, and the plane’s passengers and crew, will have access to the full range of connectivity options, including email, calls, text messages and the Internet. As a result, passengers will be able to use their own personal electronic devices in exactly the same way as they do on the ground.

“This project is a fantastic culmination of a great twelve months for OnAir’s VIP programme,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Many of our existing customers have extended the deployment of our connectivity throughout their fleets and we have seen a whole raft of new customers. The consistent feedback is that aircraft owners and operators appreciate the ease of working with us. They know we will deliver on our promises. Installing the lightweight hardware is always a smooth process, as is the certification, support and programme management around it.”

OnAir connectivity technology is highly flexible and can be fitted both in the factory and as retrofit to a wide range of VIP aircraft. It is certified on the Falcon 7X, the A320 family, A330s, A340s, B737s and is now undergoing certification on B747-800i.

Boeing’s fourth generation 747 passenger aircraft entered service in July 2012 and this OnAir-equipped aircraft will be delivered in 2015. TriaGnoSys’ GSMConneX hardware will be installed on the B747-800i, linking the OnAir services to the ground over Inmarsat’s global SwiftBroadband network.

“We are very pleased to have a strong partnership with Associated Air Center,” continued Dawkins. “We provide the most comprehensive inflight connectivity package on the market and AAC is one of the finest completion centres for both Boeing Business Jets and Airbus aircraft. The synergies are obvious and we look forward to working on more projects with AAC’s professional and highly experienced team.”

OnAir also works with a growing list of completion centres around the world. VIP, government and business jet owners and operators can therefore use their preferred completion centre to equip their aircraft with OnAir inflight connectivity.

“We pride ourselves on ensuring our customers’ aircraft not only meet but exceed expectations,” said Jack Lawless, Associated Air Center’s Chief Executive Officer. “Inflight connectivity is a must for any VIP aircraft. Working hand in hand with the OnAir team makes the whole process of installing connectivity, from certification to final activation, very efficient.”

OnAir provides worldwide connectivity, with a unique geographical reach. It has regulatory authorizations from nearly 100 countries and roaming agreements with over 350 mobile network operators. OnAir uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband global service, the only one designed to provide global connectivity.

With the rise of mobile everything, the airlines have a pretty sweet market opportunity to capture all the mobile connectivity of their airport secured and flying passengers, and eventually, turn that four-hour-market-lockup into purchasing power. The beginning is bound to be the email, tweeting, talking, and texting that is the first sign of this ‘mobile disease’ and from what we see, it is just the beginning. Recent studies have shown some reluctance of US purchasers to get on board, but that is probably a fallout of the focused hacking and lack of chipped credit cards… but it is an inevitability. In fact, there may even be an opportunity to pay-for-no-commercials, a concept that Apple is trying to fly.

Back to our subject: we got an idea for this topic and we found an OnAir Infographic in our email that tied nicely to the subject. As you may know, we love info graphics because they tell a complete story in pictures and numbers (few words) and are a data lover’s dream come true. Be sure to download the latest OnAir infographic. There’s an infographic lesson here and we think the OnAir folks got it right.

Back to the news release: “Does your airline let you tweet, text and talk? OnAir’s customers do. We offer passengers seamlessly connected journeys, year round, wherever you’re headed. Download our new infographic, with lots of facts and figures, from here. At least 70% of passengers carry a smartphone and people check their phones on average 150 times a day. So why not on a plane? When both GSM and Wi-Fi are available, 80% prefer using Mobile OnAir for emailing, text messages and calls. People use Internet OnAir, the Wi-Fi hotspot, for tweets and Facebook updates, to check the news and for travel bookings – 94% of passengers bring at least one personal electronic device onto the plane, so OnAir Play provides inflight entertainment direct to your own phone, tablet or laptop. For more information: Follow OnAir on LinkedIn. Watch OnAir on YouTube, Look at OnAir on Flikr ”

Aside from the marketing hyperbole, the OnAir folks see the inflight connectivity market developing, and communication is the first phase of this market opportunity in the sky. Aurélie Branchereau-Giles – Director, PR & Communications told IFExpress: “OnAir sets the benchmark for global inflight connectivity services, with 50 customers on five continents. We are the only provider to offer consistent global coverage for both inflight GSM and Wi-Fi, thanks to regulatory approvals from over 90 countries, 350 roaming agreements, and by using Inmarsat’s I4 satellite networks. Our products enable passengers to use their own mobile phones, smartphones, tablets and laptops in exactly the same way as they do on the ground, either through the onboard GSM network or the onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. The products are available as line-fit or retrofit for all commercial aircraft, as well as government, VIP and business jets, and ships – check out the inforgraphic for the whole story.”

Next, we wanted to let our readers know that Lumexis has a new VP Sales, Jonathan Norris. Lumexis Corporation recently announced that Jonathan Norris, highly regarded in airline industry circles for his lengthy experience in advanced aircraft cabin systems technology and extensive understanding of IFEC trends, has accepted the position of Vice President of Sales for the company. “Many of us have long known and respected Jon in his key management roles at Airbus and more recently with the APEX magazine activity,” said Doug Cline, CEO of Lumexis. “He brings a wealth of talent and experience in IFEC that clearly validates his independent assessment of our people and products. Everyone in our company is delighted that he will be joining our tight-knit team and we look forward to working closely with him to attain line-fit offerability with major OEMs in the near future and win new business from global airlines and leasing companies.” He should be onboard in the next couple weeks, one spokesperson told IFExpress. We expect he will be making many trips to Seattle and Tolouse.

Lastly, we heard that Inmarsat has announced passenger connectivity via the Inmarsat network and is serving passengers via Wi-Fi on Air China. Internet access took place on 3rd July, on an Air China Airbus A330 flying from Beijing to Chengdu. The aircraft used Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband service provided by Inmarsat’s Chinese partner MCN. Check out the MCN website. The Inmarsat SwiftBroadband based cabin Wi-Fi connectivity allowed all passengers to access the Internet for web browsing, instant messaging and other applications. This capability is the result of the close cooperation between Air China and MCN, Inmarsat’s leading Chinese distributor. The Chinese aviation regulator, the Chinese Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), was also closely involved in the project from the start to ensure that all necessary approvals were in place for the system and Inmarsat service. What remains unknown to IFExpress is the manufacturer of the airborne Wi-Fi equipment… an MCN partner, we were told?

– 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 11, 2012– OnAir continues to expand its network of completion centers, with the addition of Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) specialist PATS Aircraft Systems. The first joint project is the installation of Mobile OnAir on a Boeing 737-900ER BBJ, due for delivery in the first half of 2013.

“The list of our completion center partners is growing by the month, making it easier and easier for business jet owners and operators to equip their aircraft with our inflight connectivity technology,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “We aim to choose those with particular expertise and skills to suit the needs of this market; in this case, PATS Aircraft Systems is one of a handful of designated BBJ Service Centers. As you’d expect, the VIP market is an early adopter of inflight connectivity: business never stops, so VIPs have to remain in touch at all times, including during flights.”

“We are seeing a high demand from VIP jet operators for inflight connectivity”, said John Eichten, SVP for Sales & Marketing at PATS Aircraft Systems. “PATS prides itself on finding innovative and industry leading ways to satisfy our customer’s requirements and our partnership with OnAir is a good example of that. As a supplier of products and services to all aircraft OEMs, PATS also has a distinct culture focused on customer service, a value which OnAir also exemplifies through in-service support of our collective customers worldwide.”

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.

Switched On And Connected, Sky High

Las Vegas, Paris, Geneva | October 10, 2011 — OnAir and Eclipse announced at NBAA today that Eclipse has been appointed as a reseller of OnAir’s new light-weight airborne connectivity solution. Mobile OnAir provides passengers with inflight mobile phone connectivity, as well as mobile data facilitating “office-in-the-sky” applications, via laptops and smart phones.

OnAir provides global coverage, based on a very wide network of regulatory authorisations and roaming agreements, combined with consistent global satellite coverage, thanks to Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband. The onboard hardware for OnAir’s solution consists of only two line replaceable units (LRUs) and provides the levels of connectivity that the business aviation and government sectors need. Eclipse will add the OnAir solution to their current portfolio of solutions for these markets.

Industry leader OnAir selected Eclipse as a partner because of Eclipse’s extensive provisioning of satellite hardware and services to the aviation market for the past 15 years.

Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir explained, “Eclipse’s strong standing in the business jet and government markets will allow OnAir to reach out to those sectors, and provide the level of service our customers demand”.

Marc Pinault, Eclipse General Manager commented, “We are proud to be working with OnAir to offer our customers the most up to date airborne connectivity options available today. Heads of State and VVIP passengers cannot afford to be out of contact during flights and the OnAir services allow the customer to maintain the level of connectivity they require using their mobile phone and data devices.”

In addition to providing equipment and airtime, OnAir and Eclipse are working with industry partners to develop and deliver additional Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) packages for a wide range of aircraft, covering hardware installations and electromagnetic transmission. Working closely with industry partners allows modification and completion centers to provide the cutting edge technology their customers demand while de-risking the projects by working with the leaders in this field.