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Vodafone Egypt launches in-flight roaming service on 100 aircrafts

Direct News Source

19-Sep-2010 In its relentless effort to continuously offer its customers unprecedented services, Vodafone Egypt launched the in-flight roaming service aboard close to 100 aircraft.

The service is among others available aboard Egypt Air where it is provided in partnership with OnAir, Vodafone customers can make and receive calls, send and receive SMS, and access the internet on the aircraft during flight as they would on the ground. The service is safe and does not affect the navigation instruments.

Vodafone Egypt has partnered with the globally renowned in-flight mobile phone services providers; the first is "AeroMobile" operating on Emirates and Malaysia Airlines. Their services are currently available on 79 aircraft travelling to over 200 destinations around the world, including the popular Cairo to Dubai route.

The AeroMobile service is also launching later in the year with Air New Zealand and V Australia. In 2011 the service will also be available onboard Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific Airways.

The second company OnAir is the world's only provider of both GSM services and WiFi based internet WiFi offering voice, e-mail, text services and internet access services on Egypt Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Oman Air and Qatar Airways, in addition to Wataniya (Kuwait) Airways, TAP Portugal and British Airways. OnAir is also due to launch its services on Emirates, Air Asia, Libyan Airlines, and TAM.

Hany Fahmy, Enterprise Business Unit Director, Vodafone Egypt, said, "Thanks to the rapid Egyptian economic growth, Vodafone is constantly challenged to provide integrated and added-value services to its customers to meet their total communications needs. This innovative service allows our customer to stay connected to their loved ones and business partners even at 35,000 feet high."

He continued, "Our commitment is unwavering, we will continue the efforts to maintain our leading position in the Egyptian telecommunications industry and create value by building a prosperous and sustainable business."

Shady Naeem, Head Of International & Roaming, said that the fact that 7000 Vodafone customers have benefited from the in-fight roaming last year, highlights the significance of this sought-after service.

He added, we are offering the in-flight roaming service aboard:

• The full fleet of Wataniya Airways operating flights from/to Kuwait, and between Dubai, Amman, Damascus, Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo, Beirut, Bahrain, Alexandria, and Vienna. The service is also currently operational on 2 aircraft of Royal Jordanian Airlines 2 aircrafts operating flights between Jordan and to/from Europe;

• 2 aircraft of British Airways operating flights between London and New York;

• 6 aircraft of Qatar Airways operating flights between Qatar and to/from Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. This number is planned to reach 15 aircraft by the end of this year;

• 6 aircraft of Oman Air operating flights between Muscat and to/from Europe, Middle East and Asia;

• 2 aircraft of Saudi Arabian Airlines operating flights between Saudi Arabia and to/from Europe and the Middle East. This number is planned to reach 6 aircraft by the end of this year;

• 1 aircraft of Egypt Air.

Vodafone and OnAir expect to offer in-flight mobile phone services during this year on other airlines, including Libyan Airlines, AirAsia Malaysia, Airblue Pakistan, and TAM Brazilian Airlines.

Voice, SMS, and GPRS are available to passengers through the service.