Broadband access for Scandinavian flights

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 4 Jul 2003 at 11:46

The testing is over. Scandinavian Airlines - SAS - is to provide airborne Internet access for its passengers. The company has deemed trials of the service to be a success and will begin rolling out wireless networking for all its long-distance flights.

'The Nordic region is one of the world's most IT-dense areas and the ability to communicate easily from the air was high on our passengers' list of priorities,' said Jens Willumsen, head of Market & Product Management at Scandinavian Airlines. 'This is why we have been working for a long time to achieve a complete solution that meets our customers' demands.'

'We have long understood the benefits of wireless technology and since it is now making progress, it was an even more natural choice,' he added. 'Scandinavian Airlines was also first in the world to introduce wireless access to its lounges in 1999.'

But don't hold your breath for Scandinavian-style broadband. Installation of the Connexion system will begin in February 2004 and the entire long-haul fleet should be equipped a year later.

SAS follows the lead of Lufthansa - Lufthansa extends mile-high broadband service - which has been providing Net access to passengers on its Frankfurt-Washington route. This is now to be extended to all long-haul flights. Not only are passengers able to plug laptops into sockets near their seats or use wireless LAN (WLAN) technology, but Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebooks (S6010) were available for onboard loan.

As with Lufthansa, SAS is using Boeing's Connexion system, which has also interested BA.

Although Lufthansa took the crown for first full implementation of an Internet service on commercial flights, SAS could claim the laurel as the very first airline to provide Net and email access to its passengers on a test basis.

We reported back in January 2001 on SAS's first moves towards in-flight Net access - Internet access at 22,000 feet, cloud conditions normal. As part of the long-running test, passengers were presented with a portable PC or Mac, for onboard online access through a wireless LAN installed in the cabin.