Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) has announced that it will provide Wi-Fi on all its short-haul aircraft in a bid to enhance the passenger experience on its flights.
Broadband internet
The entire SWISS short-haul aircraft fleet will be gradually equipped with broadband internet access from Winter 2024/2025. The programme is part of a broader rollout throughout the Lufthansa Group. At SWISS, it will extend to 30 A220 aircraft and 29 A320 family aircraft.
SWISS will be offering passengers on its short-haul services free internet access to use chat and messenger services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, so they can send and receive unlimited text and picture messages free of charge throughout their time aloft. Inflight guests will also be able, for a fee, to surf the web and use email or social media platforms along with streaming and VPN services.
We appreciate how important it is for our customers to remain in touch, for professional or private purposes, while they’re on the move – be it to chat, to exchange emails or just to keep abreast of the latest news. . “So we’re delighted that we’ll soon be able to accommodate this need on our shorter flights, too.
said Heike Birlenbach, Chief Commercial Officer, SWISS.
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SWISS’s short-haul inflight internet access will be provided using a new hybrid technology known as the European Aviation Network or EAN, which combines a satellite link with ground-based radio technology to deliver a reliable broadband internet connection. The new technology is also advanced in sustainability terms: the on-board system weighs substantially less than previous technologies, which translates into less fuel consumption and correspondingly lower carbon dioxide emissions.
SWISS’s long-haul fleet is already equipped with broadband internet as of 2016.
Featured image by SWISS
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