They are known as a full-service luxury airline — indeed — Kuwait-based Wataniya Airways launched mobile inflight passenger communications services from OnAir. The new commercial service, which will be available across Wataniya Airways’ fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, took wings onboard a flight from Kuwait to Dubai. Wataniya Airways will be the first to introduce the very latest SwiftBroadband technology in the Middle East.

With the new Mobile OnAir service, Wataniya Airways passengers can stay connected inflight using their own mobile phones or BlackBerry-type devices to send and receive text messages and emails, and access the Internet. Internet access is also possible from their laptops fitted with GSM data cards.

“Passengers traveling with Wataniya Airways appreciate the opportunity to stay in touch while they fly, particularly given today’s rapidly changing economic environment,” said George Cooper, CEO of Wataniya Airways. “Through our partnership with OnAir, we are delighted to provide our passengers with the industry’s most advanced mobile inflight passenger communications services — including Inmarsat SwiftBroadband services, which we are the first to offer in the region.”

Mobile OnAir uses the industry’s most robust and extensive infrastructure for mobile communications, along with Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, high capacity services from Inmarsat fourth generation satellites. With OnAir’s advanced mobile communications technology, Wataniya Airways passengers will benefit from global coverage and high-speed connectivity.

“OnAir understands that service excellence is a top priority for Wataniya Airways,” said Benoit Debains, CEO of OnAir. “We are pleased to contribute to the overall travel experience by providing the highest available standard of passenger connectivity while helping the airline generate additional revenues.” 

A growing number of commercial airlines either currently offer OnAir inflight communications services or plan to offer them in the near future. These include Air Asia, Airblue, BA, bmi, Jazeera Airways, Kingfisher, Oman Air, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, Shenzhen Airlines, TAM and TAP. OnAir also serves private VIP and Governmental customers through partnerships with Airbus Corporate Jets, Aviation Centre Cologne and Jet Aviation.

Since December 2007, Mobile OnAir services have been used on flights to more than 53 cities in 24 countries in Europe, is launching in the Middle East, and will soon be in use in Asia and Latin America.