Cessna has opted to offer Aircell's new high-speed Internet system as a factory option aboard its Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X business jets.
The arrangement further solidifies Aircell's long-standing relationship with Cessna, and reinforces the company's presence as a leading provider for connectivity solutions in the business aircraft sector.
The air-to-ground (ATG)-based Aircell high-speed Internet system, already in operation at several US carriers, currently allows passengers on US mainland flights to use their own Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, tablet PCs, smartphones and PDAs, to surf the web, send and receive e-mail with attachments and access their corporate virtual private networks (VPN).
"Companies operate business aircraft to get more done - plain and simple - and nothing increases productivity more than having a full-scale Internet connection available in flight," says Cessna Aircraft Company senior vice-president of sales and marketing Roger Whyte.
"The Aircell high-speed Internet system is a game-changer because it's the first system that provides a true high speed Internet experience like that to which passengers are accustomed to on the ground, while being small and light enough to fit comfortably into our midsize Citations. The system's high data rates, relatively low acquisition cost and affordable monthly service fees all combine to create an unmatched value proposition for our customers."
Aircell senior vice-president and general manager John Wade adds: "Before Aircell high-speed Internet, the cost and weight of high-speed connectivity was prohibitive for most Citation operators and we're pleased to bring a whole new dimension of capabilities to those customers."
The first Aircell Internet system installations from the Cessna factory will be available for new Citation XLS+, Sovereign, and Citation X aircraft to deliver in the second quarter of 2010.
Aircell also recently announced that Lisbon-headquartered private jet club Jet Republic has selected the US firm's SwiftBroadband solution for its entire fleet of 110 Bombardier Learjet 60XR aircraft. The deal marks the largest SwiftBroadband system order ever placed.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
