Lufthansa announced today that effective December 1, 2010, passengers onboard select intercontinental flights can once again enjoy the convenience of Internet access with the relaunch of FlyNet. Working with its long-standing partners Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Deutsche Telekom, Lufthansa remains the only airline offering broadband Internet access on overseas routes. The service will initially be available on specific flights from Frankfurt to New York (JFK), Detroit and Atlanta; by the end of 2011 FlyNet will be available on virtually all of Lufthansa’s intercontinental aircraft.
“Inflight Internet onboard our long-haul flights is an innovation in the interests of our customers,” says Thierry Antinori, a member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board. “FlyNet complements the consistent communications service offering for Lufthansa customers at all points of the travel chain. It provides them with completely new and unique opportunities to spend their time onboard or while waiting for connecting flights.”
FlyNet’s high-speed, high-performance capabilities can be accessed throughout the aircraft by passengers with a WLAN-enabled device, such as a laptop, smartphone, tablet PC or mp3 player. Business travelers can access their company’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) and the broad bandwidth ensures that emails – including those with large file attachments – can be sent and received in real time. In 2011, inflight data communication should also be possible using the mobile phone standards GSM and GPRS. With that, in addition to the wireless Internet (WLAN) service, Lufthansa customers will be able to use their mobile phones to send and receive SMS text messages and transfer data with PDAs and smart phone devices such as the iPhone, PDAs and BlackBerry.
FlyNet is incredibly easy to use. Upon launching an Internet browser, passengers can automatically access the exclusive, free Lufthansa FlyNet portal, where they will find constantly updated news about economics, politics, sports and entertainment – or they can access the paid Internet service provided by Deutsche Telekom. Service provider information detailing the various billing options is available, including payment via credit card, via integrated roaming partners or by redeeming Miles & More award miles. The price for one hour of online access is 10.95 euros or 3,500 miles, while the 24-hour flat rate is 19.95 euros, or 7,000 miles. Under the flat rate agreement, passengers can access the Internet on all Lufthansa connecting flights equipped with a hotspot during the period of validity, as well as after the flight in Lufthansa lounges.
As a result of the introductory FlyNet offer, inflight Internet access will be available for free on FlyNet-equipped aircraft until January 31, 2011.
