International carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has selected Inmarsat GX Aviation Value Added Reseller SITAONAIR to make its global high-speed connected passenger experience ambitions a reality.
SITAONAIR is to deliver the upgrade of PAL’s existing Boeing 777 aircraft fleet from SwiftBroadband to GX Aviation, together with line-fitting PAL’s new Airbus A350s and A321s. Once complete, SITAONAIR will activate its nose-to-tail package of bespoke inflight connectivity (IFC) services, achieving a significantly enhanced and consistent connected experience for passengers and cabin crew.
SITAONAIR’s intuitive internet ONAIR portal offers contextualised and personalised content, satisfying digitally-demanding passengers by mirroring their ‘at-home’ experience over Global Xpress connectivity, with free 30-minute Wi-Fi sessions and cheaper price plans on offer to all passengers.
In addition, PAL customers will benefit from SITAONAIR solutions including mobile connectivity, a secure online channel for inflight card transactions and crew and passenger interactions, plus integrated, connected inflight entertainment (IFE) from Zodiac Inflight Innovations.
In April PAL announced their selection of SITAONAIR’s state-of-the-art CrewTab solution, co-created with the airline to digitalise PAL cabin crews’ operations. Coupled with GX connectivity, this solution’s capabilities will further optimise inflight customer service.
PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime Bautista said: “We are extremely proud to be realising our complete connected aircraft ambitions with SITAONAIR. Philippine Airlines is at the forefront of the connected aircraft revolution, and we are excited about the future.”
David Lavorel, CEO of SITAONAIR, said: “A quality inflight connectivity experience is now a ‘must-have’ for airline passengers and, with SITAONAIR, Philippine Airlines is advancing its ambitions for digital innovation and transformation over the latest high-speed broadband technologies.”
Otto Gergye, Asia Pacific Vice President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “GX Aviation is fast establishing itself as the world’s premier inflight broadband solution and we are delighted that it has been selected by Philippine Airlines. We congratulate our partner SITAONAIR on this announcement and look forward to working with them on the service rollout.”
