Carriers get wired to woo corporates

Carriers get wired to woo corporates

Plugged in: Swissair is the latest to adopt the Tenzing communications system

AIRLINES are investing in in-flight technology to further woo the lucrative business traveller market.

Next year will see the arrival of in-flight e-mail and Internet access on at least eight airlines, although the implementation could be delayed because of the economic slowdown and terrorist activity in the US.

Swissair has become the latest airline to sign up with Seattle-based Tenzing Communications to provide e-mail and web services. The carrier will start implementing the product next July with the delivery of a new Airbus 340-600.

Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Singapore Airlines, Varig and Virgin Atlantic are also installing the systems.

According to a survey of 10,000 business passengers who registered with the service on Air Canada and Singapore Airlines, 79% said that if all else was equal they would switch carriers in order to access their e-mails and the web in flight.

Tenzing executive vice-president John Wade said: “Business travellers have been making this clear for years. Business passengers mean profits for airlines and the airlines that want to remain competitive will offer it to their customers.”

The Tenzing service allows airlines to upgrade to broadband technology, which improves both coverage and speed. At present, airlines can either offer live Internet access of eight megabites per second to 25mbps, or free access to a selection of web content stored on an on-board server.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa has signed an agreement with Boeing to provide high-speed Internet connectivity on its long-haul aircraft. The carrier plans to equip the first Boeing 747 aircraft next year.

“We have made a deliberate decision to rely on global, highly efficient and future-orientated broadband technology rather than the very restrictive narrow-band solution which has limitations on capacity and speed,” said Lufthansa chief executive officer Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

The airline believes the system will be useful for passengers who want to make airline or hotel bookings in flight.

American, Delta and United have also formed a joint venture with Boeing to offer the same service, which will include live television and corporate intranets. The roll-out will begin late next year.