[Avionics Today 10-20-2015] Inmarsat has signed a contract to provide high-speed In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) services for passengers onboard Lufthansa’s European continental fleet. The contract, which follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) announced between Inmarsat and Lufthansa last month, formalises a 10-year strategic partnership between Lufthansa Group and Inmarsat. It also provides a contract framework to extend the service to the other airline brands in the group, which include Swiss International Airlines and low cost carrier Germanwings.
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| Lufthansa has signed a 10-year agreement for Inmarsat satellite connectivity. Photo: Lufthansa |
Under the agreement, Inmarsat will equip more than 150 Lufthansa airlines aircraft with Global Xpress (GX), with additional Lufthansa Group aircraft being added in due course. The first of these aircraft will be equipped and tested in early summer 2016. Lufthansa will additionally be trialling the European Aviation Network in 2017.
Through the agreement, Lufthansa Group looks to offer in-flight broadband connectivity that allows its European passengers to browse the Internet, watch videos, connect to their company’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) and download files with a reliable connection, according to the company.