Jazeera gets inflight mobile

The Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed low-fare carrier said yesterday it would allow its passengers to use mobile phone services as well as BlackBerry-type devices onboard its flights by the end of this year, six months ahead of schedule.

The carrier will offer OnAir’s inflight mobile telephone services to its passengers, including voice, SMS and GPRS functions, the airline said in a statement. “Jazeera Airways and OnAir will offer the service that will be available to all passengers at rates similar to international roaming charges, and will empower travellers to continue communicating with their families or their office while flying,” said Marwan Boodai, chairman and chief executive of Jazeera Airways.

The airline, which was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange in January, currently has a fleet comprising six Airbus A320 aircraft

While all the six aircraft will be retrofitted with OnAir equipment, the carrier also has 34 further A320s on order, which will be line-fitted, the airline said.

Incorporated in February 2005, OnAir is owned by European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, and SITA, the provider of air transport focused applications, communications and information technology infrastructure.

Emirates, meanwhile, became the first airline in the world to commercially launch an inflight mobile telephone service last week, with an investment of approximately $27 million (Dh99.15m) to fit its large fleet with the AeroMobile system.