Aircraft Interiors, Hamburg – 09 April 2014 – SriLankan Airlines has signed up for OnAir’s inflight mobile phone and Wi-Fi services. By the autumn, people flying from Colombo to destinations all over the world will be able to email, tweet, send text messages, make calls, and surf the Internet during the flight.
Sri Lanka’s national carrier, due to join the oneworld alliance on 1 May, is renewing its long-haul fleet. Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir will be installed as linefit on the airline’s six new A330-200 aircraft.
“We take pride in providing our passengers with a luxurious and innovative experience, so connectivity is a must for our new aircraft,” said Kapila Chandrasena, CEO of SriLankan Airlines. “Providing Wi-Fi and GSM access is the norm for leading airlines. Our aim is to offer an outstanding service to our passengers. We selected OnAir because it is the only inflight connectivity provider of consistent coverage on all the routes we fly.”
Like more than 30 airlines before, SriLankan Airlines has the Airbus ALNAv2 inflight connectivity system installed on its aircraft. Global connectivity will be powered by Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband satellite network, the only service designed for both mobility and consistent global coverage.
“We’re delighted that SriLankan Airlines has decided to offer its passengers GSM and Wi-Fi while flying. The two services complement each other perfectly, providing exactly the online experience we all expect on the ground,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “It is now the norm for all airlines to include connectivity when they are replacing or upgrading their fleets.”
OnAir is the leading inflight connectivity provider in Asia and the Middle East, with a fast-growing customer base across the two regions. OnAir has regulatory approvals from over 100 countries, as well as roaming agreements with more than 375 mobile network operators. Combined with SwiftBroadband’s worldwide satellite coverage, airlines using OnAir can provide passengers with the same connectivity on every flight.
About OnAir
OnAir sets the benchmark for global inflight connectivity solutions, with over 60 customers on five continents. We are the only provider to offer consistent global coverage for both inflight cellular and Wi-Fi services, thanks to regulatory approvals from over 100 countries, more than 375 roaming agreements.
OnAir’s products enable passengers to use their own mobile phones, smartphones, tablets and laptops in exactly the same way as they do on the ground, either through the onboard cellular network or the onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. OnAir also provides on-demand entertainment content, such as music, videos, newspapers and magazines. The products are available as linefit or retrofit for all commercial aircraft, as well as government, VIP and business jets. OnAir products operate over all satellite links.
OnAir was incorporated in February 2005 and is owned by SITA, the leading IT solutions provider to the air transport world. OnAir is a member of the GSM Association and an Inmarsat Distribution Partner for both SBB and GX Aviation services.
