“
INTELLIGENT VERTICAL: AVIATION
jet owners and their passengers will be
able to view live TV news and sports
with an additional subscription without
impact to the data plan or the need for a
separate antenna
• Have high-speed in-flight Internet
virtually anywhere. For business jet
travellers interested in the best global
primary and backup connectivity service,
Viasat’s Ku-band service, available via
GoDirect, includes global Ku-band data
on all Ka-band plans 40 GB and larger at
no additional service cost. This high-
value service will be available for aircraft
properly equipped with Viasat’s dual-
band, Ka-/Ku-band shipset
Viasat’s business aviation in-flight Internet
service will tap into the industry’s highest-
capacity, most reliable Ka-band satellite
communications network. It will also use
Viasat’s most robust business-class shipset,
the Global Aero Terminal 5510.
BRITISH AIRWAYS
HAS LAUNCHED
ITS MULTI-
MILLION POUND
INVESTMENT PLAN
TO BENEFIT ITS
CUSTOMERS WITH
MORE CHOICE AND
QUALITY FOR ALL.
service quality to the business aviation
market. We’re enabling more business
jet owners to be productive and access
Customers will be advised of the availability
of Wi-Fi when they board a connected
aircraft allowing them to browse and
stream from the comfort of their seats.
Using the latest generation technology,
British Airways will provide high-speed
bandwidth to customers, with Internet
being available approximately 10 minutes
after take-off when the aircraft has passed
10,000ft. The portal will work with the latest
operating systems from Apple, Android and
Windows, allowing customers to connect on
a variety of devices.
To celebrate the launch, British Airways is
partnering with Visa to connect customers
on board the first Wi-Fi-enabled flights.
For a limited time, customers will be able
to connect to high-speed Wi-Fi and enjoy
an hour of free browsing and streaming,
courtesy of Visa.
Customers can choose from two paid-for
Wi-Fi packages including the ‘Browse’
package, which supports Internet surfing,
social media and WhatsApp, or the ‘Stream’
package, which supports streaming of music
and entertainment, from the very best online
content services, including Netflix. The
packages are available to purchase for one
hour, four hours, or the full flight.
Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of
Brand and Customer Experience, said: “British
Airways has launched its multi-million pound
investment plan to benefit its customers with
more choice and quality for all.
“Staying connected is important to our
customers who want to be able to work,
browse and stream in the air. They can
now look forward to enjoying the latest
generation Wi-Fi across our long-haul fleet
over the next two years.”
“Whether connecting for business or
pleasure, we’re proving on more than 2,000
Viasat Ka-band-equipped flights daily that
Internet speeds and performance can be
comparable in the air and the ground,”
said Jerry Goodwin, Vice President, Global
Network Services, Viasat.
“By expanding our partnership with
GoDirect, we’re bringing a new Internet
96
INTELLIGENTCIO
the applications they need and want in
densely-populated airspace, at the speeds
and reliability they expect.”
British Airways has also started powering
some of its long-haul aircraft with high-
speed Wi-Fi, with its first three connected
aircraft now in service. The airline will
connect 118 of its long-haul aircraft over the
next two years.
Six hundred million pounds will be spent on
Club World with an emphasis on improved
catering and sleep, and a new seat in the
future. At Heathrow, a First Wing check-in
area with direct security and lounge access
has launched and lounges around the
airline’s network are to be revamped and
improved. The Club Europe cabin has also
been introduced on UK domestic services
and all customers can look forward to
the latest generation Wi-Fi across British
Airways’ long-haul and short-haul fleets over
the next two years. n
www.intelligentcio.com