Lufthansa will be able to launch its new Internet connection service on its short- and medium-haul network in October. The airline has just received the green light from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) guaranteeing that the installation of Ka-band antennas on its A319s, A320s and A321s meets the airworthiness standards for the aircraft concerned.
This autumn, business travellers will be able to connect to the internet via wi-fi using their own mobile devices, and access video streaming in addition to 'classic' navigation. Passengers will also be able to use their smartphones to send text messages. In the run-up to the official launch in October, Lufthansa will be testing the functionality and stability of the system this summer, with the first aircraft already equipped in June.
Lufthansa's first connected flight with high-speed Internet access dates back to 15 January 2003. However, the airline was forced to discontinue the service three years later when the Connexion by Boeing satellites ceased commercial operations. The airline finally 'reconnected' at the end of 2010, becoming the first airline to offer such connectivity on an intercontinental flight. The FlyNet offer has now been available for over a year on each of the 107 long-haul flights in the Lufthansa fleet, making it the largest connected long-haul fleet in the world.
