OnAir will be an Inmarsat Distribution Partner for Global Xpress™, the first global Ka-band network to provide inflight broadband connectivity for the aeronautical market.

OnAir currently uses Inmarsat SwiftBroadband (SBB) to provide the connectivity for Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir, and has been working with Inmarsat over a period of time on a seamless upgrade path from SBB to GX.

“We are delighted to be working with Inmarsat to bring passengers the next generation of inflight connectivity,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “That passengers want inflight connectivity is beyond doubt. The provision of a consistent global service is particularly important for our customers, so that they know exactly what to expect, wherever and whenever they fly.”

Global Xpress will operate in the Ka-band, and thus will provide users with significantly higher throughput than other satellite solutions, including the current generation technology based on Ku-band. This improved performance, combined with superior economics for both services and equipment and complete coverage of air routes, position Global Xpress to support broad introduction of connectivity services to passengers and airlines on a sustainable basis across their entire fleets.

“We have a very strong history with OnAir,” said Leo Mondale, Managing Director of Inmarsat GX. “OnAir was appointed our first SwiftBroadband Distribution Partner back in 2006, and in 2009 was given an award for being the greatest contributor to SBB growth. OnAir has demonstrated its ability to integrate Inmarsat technology and services into attractive solutions for the aviation market, and we’re delighted to extend the relationship to include Global Xpress’s broadband services. The partnership with OnAir represents another major step toward realizing the next generation in aviation connectivity, which we’ll begin offering commercially in 2013.”

This agreement enables OnAir, a leading provider global SBB services for commercial airlines, governmental and business aircraft, to remain at the forefront of the sector, while ensuring that the business becomes the benchmark for industry solutions.

OnAir is planning to offer Global Xpress services to its customers starting in 2013.