The Lufthansa Group is to equip over 150 of its narrow-body aircraft with the European Aviation Network (EAN) system, bringing high-speed Internet access to a significant portion of its short-haul fleet.
Major European airlines in the Lufthansa Group include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS. The announcement marks a significant expansion for Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa, both of whom already offer some level of inflight connectivity. However, this will be the first time passengers on SWISS narrow-body flights will be able to stay connected inflight.
Passengers will be able to use messenger services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger through complimentary Internet access for flights across Europe. SWISS also plans to offer extended online functionalities for an extra charge.
The roll-out is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with installation progressively taking place over the next two years. By the end of this period, the entire Airbus narrow-body fleet of all three airlines will be equipped with WiFi.
The move aligns with a growing trend in the aviation industry for an increasing demand for inflight connectivity. Airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Qatar Airways already provide high-speed inflight Internet.
