In Flight Mobile Access
Ryanair Holdings PLC
30 August 2006
RYANAIR ANNOUNCES IN FLIGHT MOBILE ACCESS FOR ALL PASSENGERS
New venture with communications pioneer OnAir will enable Ryanair's 42M
passengers to keep in touch on all flights
INFLIGHT PHONE SEAT SALE 1M SEATS - DIAL £9.99!
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline, and OnAir, the leading onboard
passenger communications provider, today (Wednesday, 30th August 2006) announced
a deal that will see Ryanair's entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft fitted with
OnAir's onboard mobile communications solution. The announcement will make
Ryanair the first European airline to offer Europe-wide mobile telephony
services during flights across its entire fleet of aircraft to all passengers
via their own mobile phones and smartphones.
The deal means that from mid 2007 (subject to relevant regulatory approval)
Ryanair's passengers will be able to call, text and e-mail using their mobile
phones, BlackBerrysTM and TreosTM at rates which will mirror international
roaming charges. OnAir intend to fit 50 Ryanair aircraft during the second half
of 2007, with the remainder of the fleet receiving installations from early 2008
onwards. Mobile OnAir will be offered on all Ryanair flights across Ryanair's
network of more than 360 routes serving 23 countries across Europe. Ryanair will
be the first European airline to offer this mobile telephony to all passengers
on all of its 200 plus aircraft fleet.
Developed by inflight communications specialist OnAir, Mobile OnAir uses
advanced lightweight onboard technology to allow passengers to make and receive
calls, exchange SMS messages and connect to e-mail via satellite broadband links
and a ground network to be supplied by OnAir's telecoms infrastructure partner,
Monaco Telecom.
OnAir's solution allows mobile phone operators to charge passengers using Mobile
OnAir at rates in line with current international roaming charges on passengers'
normal monthly bills. Ryanair will receive a commission from OnAir on call
revenues generated by passengers on board its aircraft.
Announcing the new service initiative, Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary, said:
'This is another revolutionary passenger service initiative from
Ryanair. In addition to offering our customers the lowest air fares and
youngest fleet of aircraft, Ryanair will soon enable passengers to use
their mobile phones and electronic communications devices in the air,
just as they do on the ground. That means they will be able to pass on
the good news to workmates, friends and family that they are travelling
on another on-time flight with Europe's most punctual airline.
'This is a win-win for Ryanair, OnAir and most importantly our
customers. The revenues generated by onboard mobile telephony will
reduce our costs and help us to keep offering the lowest fares in Europe
while at the same time doubling the size of our operation over the next
five years as we grow to carry 80M passengers annually by 2012. To
celebrate this new service, we are offering 1M seats from the UK to
Europe for just £9.99*. Passengers should dial up their low fare seats
immediately on www.ryanair.com as fares this low will not last long '.
George Cooper, CEO of OnAir, added:
'We are delighted that Ryanair is to become the first carrier to install
Mobile OnAir throughout its fleet. Not only is Ryanair one of the
world's most innovative airlines, but the deal is also a strong
endorsement of the all round capability of our solution for both Boeing
and Airbus aircraft'.
* taxes and charges excluded
ABOUT RYANAIR
Ryanair is Europe's largest low fares airline with 16 bases and 371 low fare
routes across 23 countries. By the end of March 2007 Ryanair will operate an
entire fleet of 134 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft with firm orders for a further
100 new aircraft (net of planned disposals), which will be delivered over the
next 5 years. Ryanair currently employs a team of 3,700 people and expects to
carry approximately 42 million scheduled passengers in the current year.
For further information on Ryanair please contact:
Peter Sherrard - Ryanair Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants
Tel: +353 1 8121 228 Tel: +353 1 4980300
ABOUT ONAIR
OnAir was incorporated in February 2005 and is a joint venture with Airbus, the
aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the
market and SITA, the world's leading provider of air transport focused
applications, communications and IT infrastructure.
OnAir's vision is to give airline passengers the choice to reach their world
from the sky. The OnAir service portfolio addresses passenger voice and data
communications needs on both long and short haul flights, on commercial Airbus
and Boeing aircraft while focusing on passengers' needs, offering choice and
ensuring an economically viable business model for airlines. OnAir is a member
of the GSM Association and recently became Inmarsat's first Distribution partner
for its SwiftBroadband services.
For further information on OnAir (not for publication) contact:
Charlie Pryor
The Wordshop
+44 (0)20 7031 8270
cp@theword-shop.com www.onair.aero
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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