Greece-based airline, Aegean, has introduced a new high-speed inflight broadband service, powered by the European Aviation Network (EAN) and provided by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom. Seven aircraft equipped with the necessary hardware entered service today, with further systems to be installed on all the airline’s other existing and new Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft by 2025. Each installation should require only minimal aircraft downtime, as EAN says the systems have the fastest installation time of any connectivity solution, taking around seven hours per aircraft.
The airline has also partnered with Display Interactive to create a customised digital portal, which allows passengers to access inflight wi‑fi packages and an IFE platform using their personal electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets.
Aegean passengers on EAN-connected aircraft will have access to three different wi-fi packages, including a free 10-minute trial window to browse the internet, and access email, messaging and social media applications. This window can be extended by selecting either the “text and surf” package or upgrading to the “streaming” option, which adds the capability to watch videos or listen to audio online.
Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO at Aegean, said: “We are very happy to offer Europe’s most advanced inflight broadband to our passengers. This exciting milestone is part of our continued efforts to develop the Aegean service offering for passengers and strengthen our competitive position, which is particularly important as the aviation industry continues to recover from the global pandemic’s impact.”
Fittingly, Greece is home to some of Inmarsat’s most critical ground infrastructure, including EAN’s Satellite Access Station. The Aegean deal is further good news for Philippe Carette, president of Inmarsat Aviation, who said, “Our European Aviation Network inflight broadband solution experienced record demand from passengers last year, with take-up rates substantially higher than before the pandemic. We are delighted that it will be available on Aegean flights, as part of the airline’s impressive efforts to offer a truly world-class passenger experience. Inmarsat has worked closely with our partner Deutsche Telekom and the Aegean team to expedite the rollout and ensure the airline’s passengers can now start enjoying Europe’s fastest inflight broadband.”
