Scandinavian Airlines to help pioneer Wireless Connectivity in the cabin

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Connexion by Boeing today announced the signing of a definitive service agreement for equipping the European air carrier’s long-haul aircraft with the broadband mobile information service.

Based on the terms of the agreement, 11 SAS long-haul aircraft will be equipped with leading-edge wireless technology that will allow airline passengers to access the Connexion by Boeing service. An undisclosed number of options for expansion of the service onto additional SAS aircraft also are part of the agreement. Service installations will commence in early 2004, while aircraft model types and flight routes will be determined in the months ahead. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Connexion by Boeing President Scott Carson commended SAS for its leadership in helping to usher in the age of in-flight wireless broadband access in Scandinavia and throughout Europe.

“The future for wireless connectivity in the cabin is now, and SAS has demonstrated its leadership by embracing the technology and the added value that real-time connectivity can bring to its passengers,” said Carson. “This agreement is a significant step in the history of aviation, one which helps to further densify the North Atlantic corridor and clearly marks a major transition from complex, hard-wired cabin configurations to the simplicity of wireless networks. The result will be long-term value for airlines and their passengers.”

“The Nordic region is one of the world’s most IT-dense areas and the ability to communicate easily from the air was high on our passengers’ list of priorities,” says Jens Willumsen, who is responsible for Market & Product Management at Scandinavian Airlines. “This is why we have been working for a long time to achieve a complete solution that meets our customers’ demands. We have long understood the benefits of wireless technology and since it is now making progress, it was an even more natural choice. Scandinavian Airlines was also first in the world to introduce wireless access to its lounges in 1999.”

Once an airliner is equipped with the Connexion by Boeing service, SAS passengers will have the ability to use wireless-enabled laptops or personal electronic devices (PEDs) for real-time, high-speed access to the full richness of the Internet including two-way e-mail, virtual private network access and streaming audio and video content, by accessing an open wireless local area network onboard. The evolution of Wi-Fi technology into commercial airliners is expected to help simplify cabin distribution, reduce costs, and eliminate wires associated with traditional hard-wired connections. SAS also is expected to benefit from increased operational efficiencies through weight and power reductions, and reduced aircraft down time for system installation.