Online onboard: Emirates aims for free Wi-Fi

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Emirates, Dubai’s award-winning airline, has given the clearest indication yet that once the rollout of wireless connectivity across the fleet is complete, passengers may be able to access the servi

Emirates, Dubai’s award-winning airline, has given the clearest indication yet that once the rollout of wireless connectivity across the fleet is complete, passengers may be able to access the service for free, a ground-breaking announcement which will no doubt put added pressure on other airlines to consider matching such a move.

Presently, all 53 Airbus A380 are “connected” and a further 28 Boeing B777s at an annual cost of over US$20 million. A retrofitting exercise is ongoing to have older aircraft equipped with the necessary technology although new aircraft deliveries will be outfitted as the aircraft is being prepared for delivery.

From the information available it seems that Emirates is giving the first 10 MB for each passenger free after which a charge applies. Availability of the service, it was pointed out, is also subject to local regulations by the countries overflown, and China and India for instance do not permit the use of Wi-Fi onboard as of yet. No firm date could be ascertained when the entire fleet will be fitted with this technology nor when the airline may want to offer the service on board for free.

Emirates only two weeks ago announced that they will seek to increase capacity to and from Africa by some 40 percent over the next few years, serving notice that the African markets are of key importance to the airline which is now the largest international airline in the world, connecting all corners of the globe. Passengers, in particular from Eastern Africa, where the B777 is being deployed on the route to Dar es Salaam, should consult the airline’s office to get up-to-date information if the service is available or on what onward flights out of Dubai they can expect to stay connected while in the air.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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