Make inflight calls now on Emirates

One of the fastest growing airlines in the world with 126 destinations in 74 countries across six continents, the Emirates, is now offering the first-ever mobile phone service onboard A380 Aircraft. Which means every passenger onboard Emirates A380 can now make calls inflight since 2 October, 2012.

Disclosing this, the Public Relations manager at Emirates Group, Michelle Girkinger, in a press statement made available to DigitalSENSE Business, says Emirates’ offers the world’s first inflight mobile phone service onboard an A380 aircraft, yet setting another record for inflight communications.

She said this was being offering in partnership with OnAir, thus passengers aboard Emirates’ A380 aircraft would now be able to stay in touch via phone calls or through the mobile data link on their personal devices with their family, friends and colleagues while inflight. 

The service is in addition to the OnAir Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) service already available on Emirates A380 aircraft.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that Emirates had hitherto set industry standards with the latest inflight innovations and connectivity, consisting as the first airline to equip entire Airbus fleet with in-flight phones since 1993. While in 1994, Emirates became the  first airline to equip entire Airbus fleet with in-flight fax machines.

The year 2003 saw Emirates emerging the first airline to offer live BBC text news headlines on its aircraft and three years on, in 2006 the airline came up with the Personal in-seat email and Short Messaging Service (SMS) installed via its fleet across all classes.

Not yet done, in 2008, Emirates began to offer onboard mobile telephone services in collaboration and two years later, in 2011, Emirates launched the Wi-Fi internet access on A380 in conjunction with OnAir.

She explained that the OnAir system allows passengers to use their own mobile phones to make and receive phone calls and text messages from Emirates A380 aircraft inflight, just as they would on the ground, using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) also known as Enhanced General Packet Radio Services (EGPRS) connections through their mobile service provider.

Emirates first A380 equipped with the full suite of OnAir connectivity, she said, departed from Dubai international Airport to Munich International Airport, Tuesday, 2 October and the first recorded A380 inflight call was placed to China while the aircraft cruised at 11,500 metres flying across the Gulf. 

Emirates Vice President Corporate Communications Product, Publishing, Digital and Events, Mr. Patrick Brannelly, says the goal on every flight is to exceed passenger’s’ expectations. 

“We believe that exceeding expectations should not only apply to our Cabin Crew’s award-winning inflight service and our SKYTRAX ‘World's Best Airline Inflight Entertainment’ ice system, but also to our passenger’s desire to stay in touch while travelling,” he said.

Brannelly also said that beginning in 1993 with first passenger satellite phone service to last year with our A380 Wi-Fi system, Emirates has always taken the approach that providing the latest in inflight service and connectivity is a key part of our passengers’ journey. 

Emirates, he noted, has continued to invest in the most innovative technology possible and promises to keep pushing the boundaries of the inflight innovation for the benefit of our passengers.

Remmy Nweke

... Making SENSE of digital revolution!