[Satellite TODAY 04-03-13] Philippines Airlines (PAL) is the latest Asian Airline to announce plans to offer in-flight connectivity services. The company has announced a deal with OnAir, which will enable its passengers to use both GSM and Wi-Fi Internet services. It has hooked up with OnAir to provide the service. Ian Dawkins, CEO, OnAir told SatelliteTODAY.com that the deal with PAL with the 15th it had done with an Asian customer and is a highly significant one for the company. He says, “The deal is a fleet deal highlighting the importance of inflight connectivity for airlines, now signing deals for their entire fleets as opposed to trials on just one aircraft. PAL is also the first airline from the Philippines to offer the combined communication suite: GSM and Wi-Fi to passengers.”
 

    Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir, will be retrofitted on PAL’s Airbus A330-343s and Boeing B777-300ERs starting next month. The global GSM and Wi-Fi services will be launched by mid-year. The airline recently signed a $7 billion deal to acquire 64 brand new single aisle and wide body aircraft from Airbus, with more scheduled for acquisition.

    OnAir has an expanding Asian footprint and works with the likes of including Singapore Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Thai Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Garuda and ANA among others. The company is targeting further deals in developing markets this year. Dawkins adds, “We are hoping to announce a couple more Asian-based deals by the end of the year. We are also hoping to have another couple of deals in Africa and Latin America announced by year end.”

    The company also plans to bring more efficient services to the cabin and cockpit, as well as improve the passenger experience. “OnAir provides applications for cabin crew and the cockpit which help streamline airline operations. Airlines and airports run highly automated, complex IT systems. However, the interface between the crew and the ground relies heavily on paper. That is outdated, slow, inefficient and expensive. We help airlines utilise their IT better, using the connectivity pipe to make operations much more efficient. We call the concept the Connected Aircraft 3.0, to highlight the point that there are three audiences: passengers, cabin crew and the cockpit,” Dawkins says.