May 21, 2008 – Geneva – OnAir and Jet Aviation today announced they have reached an agreement for the provision of mobile phone communication services to the business jet market. The agreement brings together one of the leading business aviation services companies and the leading inflight mobile phone service provider.
The agreement will enable business jet owners and their passengers to use their own mobile phones and BlackBerry-type devices to make and receive calls, and to send and receive text messages and emails during flights.
Mickael Sattler, Vice-President of Jet Aviation said, "We know that business jet owners and passengers expect the most advanced inflight communication services. Mobile OnAir allows our customers to be reachable during flights on their usual number, and to use all the functionalities of their mobile phone or smartphone as if they were on the ground. Our customers are already requesting the Mobile OnAir service and demand is growing."
Benoit Debains, CEO of OnAir, said, "The business aviation market is a growing part of the air transport market. Our SwiftBroadband technology and geographical coverage has put us at the leading edge of inflight communications on commercial aircraft. Together with Jet Aviation, we will expand our offer to this new market."
As well as providing ease of use for the traveller, the technology also provides benefits for the growing fractional ownership market. In particular, because passengers use their own phones and are billed through their home mobile operator, there is no need to invoice aircraft customers separately for their onboard communications.
Under the agreement, Jet Aviation will install the necessary airborne equipment onto the following aircraft types:
• Bombardier Challenger, Global Express
• Boeing Business Jets
• Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP, GV and G550
• Embraer Lineage 1000 and Embraer aircraft in VIP configuration
• Boeing aircraft in VIP configuration
• Citation 10 and Excel
OnAir will provide the communications service.
Mobile OnAir is also available as a catalogue option on Airbus Corporate Jets. It is currently flying with Air France. Ryanair, bmi and TAP will follow shortly. Other airlines that have agreements with OnAir are AirAsia, AirAsiaX, Jazeera Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines, Oman Air, Royal Jordanian and Shenzhen Airlines.
