Singapore Airlines launches in-flight wi-fi upgrade programme
Singapore Airlines is formally launching In-Flight Connectivity as part of a US$50 million programme to bring internet and mobile data services to customers, even when flying at 35,000ft.
Following a recent soft launch on a limited number of aircraft, In-Flight Connectivity is today available on 14 aircraft in the fleet, including all five Airbus A340-500s which are deployed on the world’s longest non-stop flights, between Singapore and both Newark and Los Angeles.
Services have also been extended to more markets such as Australia, for which regulatory approvals had not previously been obtained.
Travellers can surf the Internet, send and receive emails on smartphones and other electronic devices, and send and receive SMS text messages with GSM-compatible mobile phones.
Through a partnership with leading connectivity provider OnAir, the technology will be progressively rolled out across all of SIA’s long-haul Airbus A380-800, A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft over the next two years.
Services are offered on routes on which equipped aircraft are deployed, subject to regulatory approvals from individual countries.
A map highlighting availability when flying over specific countries is published in the Airline’s KrisWorld in-flight entertainment magazine.
Promotional price plans are also being introduced from today for wireless Internet access.
The promotional prices, which will last until 30 November 2012, are US$25 for 30 megabytes of data and US$10 for 10 megabytes of data. The previous plans cost US$29.95 for 26 megabytes and US$11.95 for ten megabytes.
A joint promotion with SingTel also enables SingTel Mobile subscribers to enjoy discounted roaming rates of up to 40 per cent for in-flight text messaging and GPRS data services, as well as up to 20 per cent for incoming and outgoing voice calls.
The discounted roaming rates are displayed on SingTel’s corporate website and the joint promotion will last until March 31st 2013.