[Satellite TODAY 12-13-11] Emirates Airlines has launched OnAir Wi-Fi Internet connectivity services on its A380 fleet, the companies announced Dec. 12.

   Emirates customers can now access the service onboard their flight using Wi-Fi enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops. The airline said that its customers onboard many A380 flights may have already been using the service for many months, as the system was installed, activated and tested on some A380 aircraft last year.

   Wi-Fi services will initially launch on 11 of Emirates 19 Emirates A380s currently in-service, with the system due to be installed both now and in the future across the entire fleet of 71 Emirates A380s on order.

   Emirates Airlines Spokesman Patrick Brannelly said that all new Emirates A380s would be delivered with a full range of Wi-Fi from mid-2012 to allow mobile phone and mobile data services.

   “Emirates recognizes that being connected in-flight is increasingly important especially on our longer flights. Adding Internet access is going to be a vital and ubiquitous part of any inflight experience, just as it is in everyday life on the ground,” Brannelly said in a statement. “As a result of our testing, we were able to learn a lot about what people like to do with the Internet in-flight and are pleased to be able to launch with very affordable pricing options.”