Lufthansa's short haul flights to get Wi-Fi in October

Lufthansa will roll out satellite-based broadband onboard short-haul flights starting from October, it said on Monday, as customers increasingly demand to stay connected in the air. Airlines across the world are moving to satellite-based Internet services, prompting a scramble for customers by communication providers. The technology on board the Lufthansa flights is being provided in cooperation with partner Inmarsat and its Global Xpress network. Lufthansa says its fleet of narrow-body A320 planes is expected to have the technology installed by mid-2018, while other Lufthansa Group airlines will follow at a later date. Lufthansa already offers broadband onboard all its 107 Lufthansa-branded long-haul aircraft. Voicendata reports that Lufthansa carried out the world’s first scheduled flight with internet access in 2003. The service had to be discontinued despite its popularity because the Connexion by Boeing satellites ceased commercial operations. In 2010, Lufthansa became the first airline to provide internet access on its intercontinental flights. Since then, FlyNet broadband has been available on all of its 107 long haul flights in the Lufthansa fleet. The Lufthansa Group is a global aviation group that has 540 subsidiaries and equity investments. Passenger transport remains one of its largest and most successful business segments. The Passenger Airline Group offers its travelers comprehensive flight schedules combined with simultaneous travel flexibility. Reuters