Air Transport

In-flight mobile communications provider AeroMobile has completed certification of its system on a sixth aircraft type, the Boeing 777-300ER, and says it will announce further airline commitments "shortly".

Supported by Inmarsat's 'Classic' and Swift64 aeronautical services, AeroMobile's system allows passengers to make and receive voice calls, text messages & GPRS data services during flight.

In addition to the 777-300ER, the system is now certified for use and installed on Airbus A330s, A340-300s and Airbus A340-500s, together with Boeing 777-200 and 777-300 variant aircraft.

It is already in full operation on 45 aircraft belonging both to launch customer Emirates and Malaysian Airlines, and has been used by more than 400,000 passengers.

AeroMobile CEO Bjorn-Taale Sandberg notes that the system "remains the only commercially operational cellular technology on wide-bodied aircraft of both Airbus and Boeing".

He says the range of installation options offered by AeroMobile, coupled with continued growth in the firm's network of roaming partners and compatibility with different aircraft communications systems, is making the system "increasingly attractive to airlines around the world".

The company is "currently in active discussions with a number of carriers" and "will be announcing further commitments shortly", adds Sandberg.