Lufthansa launches in-flight internet

Airline partners with Deutsche Telekom to let passengers surf in the sky

Lufthansa has partnered with Deutsche Telekom to offer Wi-Fi connectivity on its commercial flights, following a successful free trial at the end of 2010.

The airline will provide 5Mbit/s unlimited broadband access to passengers, making it the first commercial airline to offer the service on intercontinental flights.

The broadband connectivity is based on technology from Panasonic Avionics, which uses a satellite link from the aeroplane. The service, dubbed FlyNet, is currently available on selected Lufthansa North Atlantic routes.

Access costs €1.70 (£1.44) for 10 minutes, and is available to any Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone, tablet or PC. By the end of 2011 the service will be available on nearly the entire Lufthansa long-haul network.

"We want to offer our customers a 4G mobile internet experience that delivers high-speed connectivity independently of which technology is available at the time of use," said Olivier Baujard, chief technology officer at Deutsche Telekom.