Wednesday, October 8, 2014

ANA to launch domestic Wi-Fi product in FY2015.

On October 8th, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) announced that they will launch in-flight internet connectivity for domestic services in FY2015. Japan's largest carrier eventually plans to have approximately 100 aircraft, including Boeing 777s, 787s, and many other aircraft with over 100 seats, offering the new product.
Boeing 777-381/ER JA733A taxies at Narita. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Flights from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH), Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), and Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) would be the first to see the service, naturally. Details of the providing firm along with prices would be released in due course.

Branded 'ANA WiFi Service', ANA already offers in-flight internet connection on selected international flights on selected days (ANA to offer in-flight Wi-Fi for international from March.), with retrofitting of 19 Boeing 777-300ERs and nine 767-300ER to be completed by March 2015. 32 additional international-configured aircraft, mostly expected to be 787s, will receive the upgrade in FY2015. Service is provided by SITA subsidiary OnAir, formerly a joint-venture with Airbus.

ANA comes late, as archrival Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) has been offering domestic in-flight Wi-Fi since July (JAL SKY Wi-Fi to be launched on July 23rd.) and is well underway in retrofitting 77 aircraft by mid-2016, while Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) also commenced service on board their all-premium Airbus A330s in August (Skymark to offer free Wi-Fi on Airbus A330.). JAL provides the service at a cost, while Skymark offers it free of charge.

Reference: All Nippon Airways, October 8th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Aviation Wire, October 8th. (in Japanese)

No comments:

Post a Comment