Etihad debuts A380 equipped to allow in-flight roaming

Etihad debuts A380 equipped to allow in-flight roaming

An Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 has become the first of the type to be fitted out with UK mobile service provider AeroMobile’s in-flight communications service.

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An Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 has become the first of the type to be fitted out with UK mobile service provider AeroMobile’s in-flight communications service.

The UAE carrier now has AeroMobile connectivity on 59 aircraft serving worldwide destinations from the Middle East.

The service is also fitted to Etihad Airways’ Airbus A330-200, A330-300, A340-500 and A340-600 aircraft.

AeroMobile enables airline passengers to roam in-flight, by providing technology and services that allow the safe use of passengers’ own mobile phones on board aircraft.

The inaugural flight of Etihad Airways’ 498-passenger A380 with AeroMobile services was from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow earlier this month. The maiden flight paves the way for future superjumbos to be fitted with AeroMobile services.

Kevin Rogers, chief executive of Etihad, said: “It’s very exciting to kick off 2015 with our first AeroMobile-connected A380.

“With demand for in-flight connectivity increasing year-on-year, we’re looking forward to continued momentum in installed aircraft and passenger demand in 2015.”