Iberia's long-haul fleet is being equipped with an air-to-ground messaging service for use by passengers, following the Spanish flag carrier's selection of Arinc to provide a package of satellite communications services.
The package includes the seatback short message services and e-mail solution developed by Arinc in association with in-flight entertainment (IFE) system supplier Matsushita and airborne internet service provider Tenzing. This allows passengers to send text messages to the ground via Matsushita's InFlight Communicator, which is incorporated into its MAS S3000 IFE system.
Messages are sent over the Arinc satellite network and delivered by Tenzing software to e-mail addresses or GSM mobile telephones. Passengers will be charged $2.10 per message.
The messaging service will be launched initially on Iberia's new A340-600s, deliveries of which began last month, and then introduced across the airline's other long-haul aircraft equipped with Matsushita IFE systems. Arinc says a reply feature, together with other enhancements to the messaging service, are scheduled for later this year.
Source: Flight International
