Air Berlin has started the process of equipping its entire fleet with wifi technology.
The German carrier has completed installing a Panasonic wifi system onto two A320 aircraft, both of which will operate flights to Abu Dhabi, one from Vienna and the other from Stuttgart.
The first Vienna to Abu Dhabi service to come with on-board internet access will take-off on November 24, while the Stuttgart to Abu Dhabi route will come with wifi on December 1.
The cost breaks down as follows:
- €4.90 for 30 minutes, including 20MB of data
- €8.90 for an hour, including 50MB of data
- €13.90 to be online for an entire medium-haul flight, including 90MB of data
- €18.90 for the "full flight package" for long-haul flights, including 120MB of data.
Passengers can pay by credit card on the web browser on their mobile device.
Air Berlin said it plans to complete fitting wifi across if entire fleet within three years.
Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO of Air Berlin, said: "With the new wifi service, our passengers can stay online during the flight and stay in touch with their families, friends and business partners.
"We will gradually expand the new service to almost the entire fleet. Air Berlin is the first German airline to offer inflight internet access not only on long-haul flights, but also on short- and medium-haul flights."
In August, Air Berlin launched a service for passengers to bid online for an upgrade to business class (see news, August 11).
Graham Smith
