Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is planning to roll-out in-flight Wi-Fi on its entire fleet of aircraft.
The service, provided by OnAir, will initially be offered onboard the Manila-based low-cost carrier’s new fleet of long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft from 2013. CEB then plans to expand it to its fleet of A320s for short-haul flights.
The new service will enable CEB’s passengers to access the internet via their Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones, tablets and laptops, as well as making calls using Voice Over IP application.
The airline’s new fleet of A330s is scheduled to have Wi-Fi installed by the middle of next year, in time for the launch of long-haul services to destinations in the Middle East, Australia, Europe and the US.
CEB will become the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to provide in-flight internet access.
“Cebu Pacific has a highly social community of over 600,000 likes on Facebook and over 380,000 Twitter followers. We are very happy to provide our guests with the convenience of online connectivity while in-flight. CEB can now engage passengers through innovative web-based solutions that will further enhance their flying experience with us,” said Candice Iyog, CEB’s Vice President for Marketing & Distribution.
“Cebu Pacific’s focus on social media makes in-flight connectivity an obvious option, both so that passengers can stay connected throughout their journey, and so the airline can continue reaching its passengers,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Cebu Pacific is OnAir’s first low-cost, long-range Wi-Fi client in Asia. As the air transport market develops, we expect to see more LCCs operating long-haul routes and there is no doubt they will want to provide connectivity.”
Currently Asia Pacific’s third largest low-cost carrier, CEB is currently undertaking a major fleet expansion. In addition to the eight A330s, it has outstanding orders for 53 A320s and options for a further 10, potentially expanding its fleet size to 120 aircraft in the next few years.
