Passengers onboard Aer Lingus’ long-haul flights can now use their own mobile phones to text and browse the internet, using AeroMobile’s in-flight roaming service.

All seven of the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft, which serve the USA from the Republic of Ireland, are fitted with the AeroMobile service, meaning travellers can stay in touch with friends and family by SMS, or email a colleague at 30,000 feet.

Irish passengers using Three Ireland, Vodafone Ireland and O2 Ireland, as well as travellers from the US on AT&T and T Mobile can all access the AeroMobile network in-flight.

What’s more, AeroMobile has roaming agreements with over 220 mobile phone operators worldwide, from the Netherlands, the UAE and Singapore, to Estonia and New Zealand.

In-flight roaming has already proved a hit with travellers on connected flights in and out of Ireland; in the last six months more than 20,000 passengers have connected to the AeroMobile network on flights operated by Etihad, Emirates and SAS serving Ireland, sending 9,000 text messages from the cabin.

The service is just like roaming abroad; passengers simply turn on their mobile device to connect to the network, and are billed directly by their mobile operator.

Prices are typically similar to ‘rest of world’ terrestrial roaming rates.

“With the launch of AeroMobile services on Aer Lingus’ transatlantic routes, Irish passengers are certainly well-served with in-flight connectivity; there are now up to 140 flights a week coming in and out of Ireland on AeroMobile-equipped aircraft,” said Kevin Rogers, chief executive, AeroMobile.