Airline to offer onboard Wi-Fi loop

Passengers on a growing number of Emirates A380s can now surf, share, email, or tweet their way across the Emirates network as the airline launches Wi-Fi internet connectivity with leading industry service provider OnAir. Passengers can access the service of the Wi-Fi in the sky onboard their flight using their Wi-Fi enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops. All customers have to do is open up their device's wireless connections, log on to the OnAir network and follow the simple steps to access the internet. Price plans start at just $7.50 (Dh27) for mobile devices and $15 on laptops for generous data packages that allow plenty of internet connectivity at an accessible price. The $7.50 package should be sufficient for the average Blackberry users to stay connected all the way from Dubai to Paris — a flight of over six and a half hours. Article continues below Uninterrupted link Saj Ahmad, a UK-based aviation analyst, said, "Emirates is making the most of its flagship Airbus A380 by giving customers real time web and connectivity access in the air — no longer do customers have to cease what they do when they board an airplane and they can use the internet as if they were at home or in the office. "As Emirates continues to grow, the plethora of customers its serves are universally all going to want web services in the cabin and the introduction of the OnAir Wi-Fi services expands the carriers commitment to investing in technology to make passengers come back and fly with them again," he said. As part of a proving phase, customers aboard many A380 flights have been using the service for many months already as the system was installed and activated in the first few A380s last year. "Emirates recognises that being connected inflight is increasingly important especially on our longer flights. Adding internet access is going to be a vital and ubiquitous part of any inflight experience, just as it is in everyday life on the ground," said Patrick Brannelly, vice-president Corporate Communications Product, Publishing, Digital and Events. "As a result of our testing, we were able to learn a lot about what people like to do with the internet in-flight and are pleased to be able to launch with very affordable pricing options." "Emirates has led the way in mobile phone use onboard with 91 aircraft currently allowing the service," he added. "We are obviously delighted to launch OnAir Wi-Fi on our A380 aircraft and we will continue to invest in additional communications products across the fleet." Adel Al Reda, Emirates Executive Vice-President, Engineering and Operations. "With the OnAir product onboard, Emirates ensures our passengers will enjoy being connected in the sky on our most advanced aircraft." Initial launch Wi-Fi services will initially launch on 11 of 19 Emirates A380s currently in service, with the system due to be installed both now and in the future across the entire fleet of 71 Emirates A380s on order. In addition to Wi-Fi, from mid-2012 all new Emirates A380s will be delivered with a full range of Wi-Fi, mobile phone and mobile data services. "The fact that Emirates has chosen OnAir connectivity services for its A380 fleet validates our strategy of developing a SwiftBroadband-based consistent global service. With the significant expansion of the Emirates A380 fleet and global route network, it is important for passengers to access connectivity services anytime and anywhere," said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. Ahmad adds, "Furthermore, that Emirates is providing a rollout of connectivity and data services on its A380 fleet does not mean we can't or won't experience the same on its 777-300ERs and upcoming A350-900s.