Passengers on Air Cote d’Ivoire’s new A320 aircraft will be able to enjoy inflight connectivity when the aircraft are delivered.
The airline has signed with SITAONAIR for inflight passenger connectivity services on its five A320 on order.
Air Cote d’Ivoire’s new A320s will use two products from SITAONAIR’s, Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR.
With Internet ONAIR onboard, airlines can offer passengers seamless inflight internet access, connecting their personal devices by opening a browser – just as they would with a public Wi-Fi hotspot.
Airlines can use Internet ONAIR to personalize their passenger relationships by developing a portal that can offer an interactive and engaging experience for the passenger. It also offers opportunities for airlines to grow their ancillary revenues.
Mobile ONAIR, offers passengers an airborne mobile phone service that enables them to make phone calls, send texts and use their mobile phone data inflight, through an extensive number of roaming partners in Africa and across the world.
In June 2017, SITAONAIR’s teams will begin activating Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR on five new Air Côte d’Ivoire A320s equipped with Airbus’ Airline Network Architecture (ALNA) server platform. The services will make use of SwiftBroadband, an IP-based data service from Inmarsat that SITAONAIR, as distributor, will operate as service provider.
The project is set for completion in 2019, when Air Côte d’Ivoire (VRE) will take delivery of the last of its five new A320s.
Stephan Egli, Commercial Regional VP for the Middle East and Africa, SITA:
“We are very proud to be helping Air Cote d’Ivoire to deliver a brand-new fleet of A320s with the quality inflight connectivity services passengers increasingly demand.
“With the first five of Africa’s airlines to achieve inflight connectivity in the continent using SITAONAIR as their service provider of choice, VRE is part of an inflight connectivity revolution gaining momentum across Africa, as the airlines in the region look to offer the same quality of product for passengers as other regions like their Middle East neighbours.”
René DECUREY the CEO of Air Côte d’Ivoire:
“As the Ivory Coast’s national airline, we are very much at the frontline of passenger demand as they take shape. Passengers are telling us they want access to internet connectivity from ground-to-air, to enable them to sustain their online lives, wherever they fly. With SITAONAIR’s trusted expertise and industry standing, and with Internet ONAIR and Mobile ONAIR on board, we will be able to give our passengers what they want.”
About Air Côte d’Ivoire
Air Côte d’Ivoire is the national airline of Ivory Coast. Based in Abidjan, the airline operates a network throughout West Africa as well as domestic routes.
Routes: Air Côte d’Ivoire flies to 20 African cities, including Accra, Freetown, Lagos and Kinshasha. It also flies to 6 domestic cities.
Fleet: Currently Air Cote d’Ivoire operates:
- 4 Airbus A319
- 1 Airbus A320
- 4 Bombardier Dash 8
Air Côte D’Ivoire has orders for three A320neo and two A320 aircraft.
Passengers: About 600,000 a year.
Alliance: None
N.B. Image credit: Airbus
