Finnair Launches In-Flight Internet on European Flights; Service is Free for Two Months

Finnair has launched a new high-speed internet service on its narrow-body Airbus fleet on European flights.

Finnair partnered with global communications company, Viasat Inc. to deliver the high-speed in-flight internet service, which has already been installed on 6 of Finnair’s narrow body Airbus aircraft.

By the end of this summer about 20 aircraft are expected to be installed with internet connectivity, with the entire narrow-body Airbus fleet expected to be internet connected by summer 2019.

“We are very happy that we can offer our customers something truly special, a state-of-the-art internet connection on our European flights,” said Piia Karhu, SVP, Customer Experience at Finnair. “Customers can also enjoy the services we provide online through our Nordic Sky portal, such as the latest digital newspapers and shopping possibilities. Having an internet connection onboard also enables us to introduce new tools for our crew to improve the customer experience on our flights.”

Finnair customers can now try the service free of charge during a testing period which is expected to run for two months.

Viasat’s Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Aviation, said, “Finnair is a customer-focused airline bringing the latest technology to their fleet to ensure advanced passenger engagement. We’re proud to partner with them, and provide onboard internet experiences that deliver on unmatched speed and quality. In entering the passenger testing phase, we’ll be gaining the critical insights needed to further optimize our service to ensure Finnair customers get a unique experience built around their needs, interests and usage behaviors.”

Once the installations are complete, the in-flight internet connection will be available on most of Finnair’s European flights. There are some limitations above sea areas like the Bay of Biscay and the North Sea where the satellite coverage and connectivity are unavailable. Some restrictions also apply over Latvia, Lithuania, parts of Belarus and Russia. Restrictions may also apply to gate-to-gate internet service availability due to specific country and aviation agency regulations. Finnair already provides internet connection on all its long-haul flights.

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