ONAIR IN TALKS WITH ASIA'S MAJOR AIRLINES TO MARKET INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY SERVICES

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- OnAir, a global leader in inflight
connectivity provider, is in talks with major airlines in the region to
offer its latest inflight connectivity to their fleet of airplanes.

Chief Executive Officer Ian Dawkins said OnAir has signed an agreement
with Hong Kong Airlines to offer a full connectivity suite (Internet WiFi +
mobile telephony) on their new fleet of Airbus A330 long range.

He said OnAir has a very strong position in the market, with over 25
announced customers, and has flown over 120,000 flights to 300 cities connecting
passengers from 75 countries, with roaming agreements with more than 170 mobile
phone operators.

"Our objective is to stay as the leader in the onboard GSM/GPRS market," he
told BERNAMA in a telephone interview from Geneva.

OnAir is the first and the only provider to offer both inflight GMS/GPRS
mobile telephony and Internet WiFi services.

OnAir provides advanced communications systems for both single-aisle and
twin-aisle commercial aircraft. Solutions are based entirely on certified
equipment and software and can be either line-fitted or retro-fitted on Boeing
and Airbus fleets and other aircraft types.

Mobile OnAir uses the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network technologies -- the world's most
robust and widely deployed infrastructure for mobile voice and data.

GSM has over 3.6 billion users in 218 countries, representing 86 per cent of
the global mobile market.

Roaming capabilities are facilitated through agreements with mobile network
operators worldwide.

Passengers' GSM devices (and GSM technology-compliant devices) connect to
an
antenna onboard the aircraft and a mini-GSM network sends the calls and data via
an Inmarsat Swift Broadband satellite link to the ground.

It connects to the OnAir ground infrastructure, which routes the calls
and data to the public networks (mobile and fixed network operators).

These advanced communications systems can be tailored across different
platforms and fleets.

Dawkin, who is appointed as CEO in June said Oman Air being the first
airline to launch this full connectivity suite.

"We have also recently launched an advanced application for British
Airways, Club Mobile, the first airline mobile portal available, delivering
personalised services.

The services available are such as consulting the weather forecast for their
destination, checking traffic congestion, booking a chauffeur, and accessing
concierge services.

Also available are services such as viewing guides to local events or check
sport results.

Currently, Dawkins said OnAir has seven customers in service namely British
Airways on their premium business class service London City to New York JFK (two
Airbus A318 aircraft), TAP Portugal on one A319 aircraft), Oman Air (first
airline in the world) offering both GMS and WiFi Internet onboard (three
aircraft A330), and Qatar Airways (on its brand-new A320 fleet – five aircraft)

Others include Royal Jordanian (on two A320s), Watanyia Airways (on six
aircraft) and one VIP aircraft.

Dawkins said there are six other clients who will launch the services
later this year, out of more than 25 announced customers.

They include Saudi Arabian Airlines (on A330 aircraft ), Air Asia (A320),
TAM (A320), Libyan Airlines (A320), EgyptAir (A330), Aeroflot (A330).

He also said AirAsia has signed an agreement to provide them with Mobile
OnAir.
"In the next couple of weeks, it is expected that AirAsia will launch
GSM/GPRS mobile telephony -- voice, data and access to Internet via their mobile
phones/smartphones service on five Airbus A320.

Earlier, OnAir has signed an agreement with Emirates to install full Mobile
OnAir and Internet OnAir in-flight passenger communications services on all
their 90 Airbus A380 flagship, double-decker aircraft fleet.

On the company's growth, Dawkins foresees that there would be a cascade
effect coming from major airlines which are already offering onboard
connectivity.

"That will influence other airlines to provide it as well, to the point that
in the next five years and out, inflight connectivity becomes a requirement for
airlines as much as other items in the cabin," he said.

In future, Dawkins said: "We should also see partnerships between market
players, from OnAir’s perspective, alliances with inflight entertainment (IFE)
manufacturers will be fundamental."

"I am determined to make OnAir an undisputed leader in onboard connectivity
solutions," added Dawkins who has more than 20 years experience in the
aeronautical industry.

-- BERNAMA