EL AL Boeing 737. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

[Via Satellite 03-07-2014] EL AL will be the first customer in Europe for ViaSat’s Exede In The Air in-flight connectivity service. The service will be delivered to EL AL Boeing 737s flying routes from Tel Aviv into several European cities. The companies plan to launch the service within one year.

ViaSat will be responsible for providing and managing in-flight Internet service to the aircraft, including airborne terminals, antennas, radomes, and air time from the Eutelsat KA-SAT high-capacity Ka-band satellite. The system is capable of delivering 12 Mbps or more to each connected passenger.

“As part of our commercial strategy, installation of Internet service on European routes will significantly improve the quality of service and flight experience for EL AL customers,” said EL AL CEO Elyezer Shkedy. “Enabling passengers to connect to the Internet in flight is nothing less than a technological and service revolution. EL AL passengers who use portable computers, tablets or smartphones will be offered a choice of surfing packages, including a free option, so that during their EL AL flight passengers will be able to remain connected for work or pleasure.”