US-based aircraft communication solution provider Gogo has entered into an agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG) to provide high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity on long-haul British Airways (BA) flights.
The broadband connectivity will be provided using next-generation satellite-based systems.
Under the deal, Gogo will deliver its latest technology, called 2Ku, which will be fitted on 118 British Airways, four Aer Lingus B757s and 15 Iberia long-haul aircraft.
The parent company of BA, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, IAG is claimed to be the first European airline group to use 2Ku.
The group expects to deploy a British Airways B747-400, the first long-haul aircraft equipped with Gogo’s 2Ku in-flight connectivity, to begin service by early next year.
Iberia and Aer Lingus will have their first A330-300 and B757 aircraft fitted with 2Ku later next year.
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By GlobalDataBy early 2019, 90% of IAG airlines’ long-haul fleet is expected to be equipped with high-quality connectivity.
It will provide faster in-flight Wi-Fi broadband access during the flight.
With Gogo’s 2Ku technology, the passengers will be provided with enhanced capacity to stream videos from suppliers such as Netflix and Amazon.
The passengers will also be able to use multiple devices at the same time, bandwidth and connection speeds.
More entertainment options will also be offered to the passengers throughout their journey, with future plans to add options to place orders from their phones and tablets, as well as arrange for items purchased on-board to be delivered to their homes.
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said: "This state-of-the-art technology will provide greater bandwidth, faster speed and broader coverage to our airlines’ customers.
"Global connectivity is something they demand and we are providing high-quality connections with innovative technology solutions to improve the travel experience."
However, the airline group has not taken any decision on the expenses to be borne by passengers but indicated that the broadband service was likely to be free for basic browsing with charges for a faster service permitting downloads and video streaming, reported The Guardian.
