Aeroflot – Russian Airlines launches a program for equipping its long-haul aircraft with a system providing in-flight Wi-Fi internet access. This service will be available on 26 aircraft by the end of 2013, the carrier’s press-service reports.

Following the results of this program 22 Airbus 330s and four Boeing 777s jets will offer in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity. 15 of the above-mentioned jets (12 А330s and 3 В777s) will be fitted with the system in the first quarter of 2013. "Airbus А330 aircraft are the backbone of Aeroflot’s long-haul fleet. The coming deliveries of the latest В777 aircraft will significantly strengthen the carrier’s capabilities on long-haul routes. The program for equipping B777s with the system providing in-flight Wi-Fi internet access will be continued: 6 jets will be equipped in 2014, 3 ones – in 2015 and 3 jets – in 2016", - Aeroflot noted.

Aeroflot has picked the connectivity suite by OnAir – the global provider of communication services for the aviation, which uses Inmarsat satellite constellation and equipment. The company was founded in 2005 by SITA, the leading IT solutions provider to the air transport world, and Airbus.

The wireless Wi-Fi connectivity solution was tested and is currently being operated by Aeroflot. At present five A330s are equipped with it.

«We want to make Wi-Fi internet access available on all of our long-haul aircraft, - CEO of Aeroflot, Vitaly Savelyev said. – The corresponding program complies with two key areas of Aeroflot’s strategy. The first one is implementation of the latest technologies in all of the company’s fields of activities. And the second one is entering the list of the world’s leading airlines in terms of service quality».