OnAir has been selected by India’s Kingfisher Airlines to supply its full range of passenger communication services. From 2008, Kingfisher’s long-haul passengers will be able to use OnAir’s webmail and webchat services followed in 2009 by services that will give passengers access the Internet during flights, and allow the to send and receive emails and make and receive phone calls.

OnAir's services will initially be installed on five new Airbus A330s and five new Airbus A340s with plans in place to install the system across its entire long range fleet. Kingfisher Airlines will use its A330s on routes to Europe and Asia, while the A340s will service longer non-stop flights, such as to the USA.

Hitesh Patel, executive vice-president, Kingfisher Airlines, says: “We pride ourselves on our high levels of service, including state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and live TV at every seat. Being the first, not just in India but also in the world, to offer our guests all of OnAir’s communications services, is truly a great opportunity.”

The service is based on an onboard server, and is connected to the ground infrastructure through SwiftBroadband, Inmarsat’s broadband satellite infrastructure. Fees will be based on data download for Internet usage, and per flight for webmail and instant messaging, and for Mobile OnAir the cost will be similar to international roaming rates, with passengers being billed by their operator in their regular bill.

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Source: Flight Daily News

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