Etihad Airways passengers can now access wifi on-board the carrier's fleet of 24 B777 aircraft.
The airline said its entire fleet of 89 passenger aircraft — 28 A320s, 26 A330s, 11 A340s and 24 B777s — will feature mobile and internet connectivity within "months".
The move means passengers will be able to make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages and emails, and use mobile data services.
The cost of using the "wi-fly" service starts at US$5. It can be bought on-board using payment methods including credit cards and Paypal.
Etihad said in a statement: "Mobile telephone usage will be billed by the guest's mobile service providers based on the international roaming rates levied by the service providers."
Peter Baumgartner, the carrier's CCO, said: "We believe that onboard connectivity is an important competitive differentiator for our guests and are continuously introducing new communications technology to enhance their travel experience... similar to what they expect at home or work."
Etihad operates its B777 aircraft on its long-haul routes to Los Angeles, Washington DC, London, Manchester, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, São Paulo, Bangkok and Jakarta.
Last week, the airline unveiled its new livery design and its A380 superjumbo (see news, September 26). On Sunday, it revealed its B787-9 Dreamliner (see news, September 29).
Graham Smith