Emirates launches wi-fi across fleet

Emirates Airlines is formally launching wi-fi connectivity across their fleet - but data details are still unclear.
 
Wi-fi services will initially launch on 11 of the 19 Emirates A380s currently in service, and then progressively across the entire fleet.

From mid-2012 all new Emirates A380s (there are a further 71 double-decker A380s on order) will be delivered with a full range of wi-fi, mobile phone and mobile data services.

Wi-fi on Emirates is not a new thing. As part of a proving phase, customers onboard many A380 flights have been using the service for many months already as the system was installed and activated on the first few A380s last year.

But how much will the precious cost us?

Price plans start at just $US7.50 (nearly $NZ10) for mobile devices and $US15 (nearly $NZ20) on laptops.

New Zealanders will also pay at the US price rate - meaning the price for local travellers will alter depending on how our dollar moves.

Emirates have not yet specified how much data this will get you, saying only that the $US7.50 package should be sufficient for the average Blackberry user to stay connected continuously for more than six and one half hours.

This of course does not allow power users, or business users needing to download PDF documents or other large email attachments, to understand what return they might get on their ‘investment’.

What about New Zealand?

New Zealand will get limited access to the service at first – as will the rest of the world.

“If the particular aircraft operating the Auckland service has [wi-fi] fitted then it should work,” said an Emirates spokesperson.  “Since so far 11 of the 19 Airbus A380s have the facility installed, at present it depends which aircraft is operating on a given day.”

Getting online

Emirates said the inflight wi-fi network can be accessed on any wi-fi enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops.

To do so, customers open up their device’s wireless connections, log on to the OnAir network and follow the simple steps to access the internet.
 
Emirates operates A380s daily between Auckland and Dubai via Sydney.

MORE TO COME