Icelandair has extended the availability of wifi internet access on its aircraft to allow passengers to connect from the moment they board the aircraft.
Previously the carrier switched on the technology when the aircraft reached 10,000 feet, and switched it off again before landing.
Icelandair says that allowing customers to use wifi the whole time they are on its aircraft is a first for any airline in Europe.
As an example low-cost carrier Norwegian (which offers free wifi on its B737-800 fleet) allows passengers to connect once the "fasten your seatbelt" sign has been switched off.
Charges for wifi usage on Icelandair flights costs from €6 depending on the flight – Saga (business) class passengers and Gold members of the carrier’s Saga Club frequent flyer scheme get free access.
The carrier is set to launch flights between Reykjavik and Aberdeen from March 9 using the group's Air Iceland subsidiary (see news August 17, 2015), and will increase the frequency of its Reykjavik-Glasgow route from March 19 (see news August 28, 2015).
Mark Caswell
