Passengers On New JFK-LCY To Enjoy Wireless Computing

British Airways announced Friday plans to launch OnAir's inflight mobile communications service on its new twice daily, all business-class route from London City Airport to New York City's JFK Airport.

Passengers on the new service will be able to stay connected during the flight using their own mobile phones or BlackBerry-type devices to send and receive text messages and emails, and to access the internet. Internet access is also possible from laptops fitted with GSM data cards. Airlines equipped with OnAir services can choose to provide voice and data or data services only, depending on time of the day and passenger preferences.

"This is a great service for our customers whom we know want to do business in the air or simply stay in touch via email or text," said Willie Walsh, British Airways' chief executive. "It's a perfect fit for our new business class only services from London City airport to JFK which we will launch later this year."

Passengers will benefit from high-speed connectivity delivered through OnAir's mobile communications technology, which uses the GSM/GPRS network. OnAir is also the only existing commercial inflight communications provider to use Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, high capacity services from Inmarsat 4th generation satellites.

"We are delighted to be working with British Airways, one of the world's flagship carriers, to provide the highest available standard of inflight passenger connectivity and to introduce the service on this premium route," said OnAir CEO Benoit Debains. "British Airways has long been regarded as an industry leader and innovator, and we look forward to helping them succeed in this new trans-Atlantic service."

A growing number of commercial airlines either currently offer OnAir inflight communications services or plan to offer them in the near future, including Air Asia, bmi, Jazeera Airways, Kingfisher, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, Shenzhen Airlines, and TAM.

FMI: www.onair.aero, www.britishairways.com