Budget carrier Ryanair will roll out the OnAir in-flight mobile connectivity service initially across 25 aircraft during the first quarter of next year.
Ryanair is OnAir's full launch customer for the service, which enables passengers to use their mobile phones and other devices such as BlackBerrys in flight.
The supplier has been working to secure the necessary approval from national telecom regulators to support the start of services for its launch customers, a process that has pushed back the launch of such services into next year.
"Our in-flight mobile phone service will be tested on 25 aircraft before the end of March 2008," says Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary. He indicates these are likely to be deployed on aircraft operating out of London Stansted.
UK telecom regulators in October launched a six-week consultation on proposals to enable passengers to use their mobile devices on board. French telecom regulators have also now issued an approval to enable Air France, which is one of three carriers to sign up to trials of the OnAir service, to carry out its trial.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
