Peter Hill, the Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, recently spoke of the wealth of opportunities offered to both airlines and their customers by the integration of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and in-flight connectivity systems at Marketforce and the EA’s The Future of Air Transport 2010 conference, held in London.
“Having been the first airline to introduce in-flight mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity, Oman Air has proved that the technology works. Over the next year or two, many other carriers will offer connectivity to their customers and the speed of technological development will see enormous possibilities open up,” Mr Hill said in comments he made at the event which were released by the airline.
He said the convenience of staying connected in-flight is clear. Making mobile phone calls, sending text messages, checking email and surfing the internet are all taken for granted on the ground and are now available in the air, Mr Hill said adding that the next step will be for airlines to make the most of the technology. “In-flight broadband already gives us the opportunity to shop whilst we fly, but carriers and their technology partners will be working together to develop a greater range of options, tailored to the needs of customers and offering opportunities to deliver new revenue streams.”
Mr Hill’s comments followed his presentation, titled “In-flight entertainment: Fees or free”, during which he said that in-flight entertainment should be referred to as in-flight entertainment and connectivity, as the technologies become increasingly integrated. He added that there was no such thing as ‘free’ connectivity, as the technology has to be paid for at some point.
Mr Hill was invited to speak at The Future of Air Transport 2010 following Oman Air’s recent introduction of a new fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft which features the world’s first combined mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity package, as well as audio and video on demand and live satellite TV.
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