Singapore Airlines (SIA) on Thursday launched a $50 million in-flight connectivity program to bring Wi-Fi Internet access to more aircraft in its fleet.
The Asian carrier said their OnAir in-flight connectivity service is now available on 14 aircraft in its fleet, including all Airbus A340-500s operating between Singapore and Los Angeles.
"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," SIA said in a statement.
Included in the in-flight connectivity package is the ability for passengers to send and receive text messages with GSM-compatible cell phones.
“As our customers’ preferences towards entertainment and connectivity options change over time, so must we. Mobile and Internet connectivity capabilities are just the start, enabling our customers to stay connected even when flying at 35,000ft. There will be much more investment in the months and years ahead to keep our customers both connected and entertained,” said Tan Pee Teck, senior vice president at SIA. “We have always been a leader in embracing technology and are confident that these initiatives will both meet and exceed our customers’ high expectations, keeping us at the forefront of airline product innovation.”