Ryanair and Onair announced Aug. 30 a deal calling for Ryanair’s entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft to be fitted with Onair’s onboard mobile-communications product.

The Mobile Onair allows passengers to make and receive calls, exchange text messages and connect to e-mail via satellite broadband links and a ground network to be supplied by Onair’s telecom infrastructure partner, Monaco Telecom.

Onair intends to fit 50 Ryanair aircraft with the equipment during the second half of 2007, with the remainder of the fleet receiving installations in 2008.

Mobile-phone operators will charge passengers using Mobile Onair at rates in line with international roaming charges on passengers’ normal monthly bills. Ryanair will receive a commission from Onair on call revenues generated on board its aircraft.

The service is subject to regulatory approval.