Swissair has operated the first revenue-service trial of the satellite telephone system, which it plans to introduce to its narrow body fleet in 1996. The airline is installing Racal/Honeywell avionics, Canadian Marconi antennae and Claircom cabin-telephones on its medium/short-haul fleet following its pioneering decision to opt for a satellite system, rather than the alternative terrestrial flight-telecommunications system. Swissair opted for satellite telephones, primarily because, that is the only system offering the gate-to-gate coverage which it believes is essential for passenger service.
Source: Flight International