Airlines are rushing to install Wi-Fi on board, seeing not only an
opportunity to meet demands from customers to be always connected,
but also to make the most of advertising contracts from companies
keen on access to this captive audience.
Panasonic Avionics, part of Panasonic Corp, says it has a 46 percent
share of Wi-Fi systems installed since 2009, taking the lead over
rivals such as OnAir, Gogo and Global Eagle's Row44.
"We installed 488 systems on aircraft last year, but the rate needs
to double to 1,000 a year to catch up with demand," Neil James,
executive director sales and marketing, told Reuters at the Aircraft
Interiors Expo in Hamburg this week.
While Wi-Fi onboard has so far mainly been fitted to long-haul
fleets, airlines are now looking at it for shorter flights,
especially as people bring their own tablets on board.
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James predicted 12,000 narrow body planes would be equipped with the
technology in the next 10 years.
He also said Panasonic would continue to look at acquisitions to
expand its avionics business. It on Tuesday announced the purchase
of software consultancy Tactel, which designs apps and portals.
SEEKING SATELLITES
Suppliers used the Hamburg show to tout hardware to capture the
satellite signals that make Wi-Fi on board possible.
Global Eagle unveiled a prototype for a new antenna which does not
only spin and lift as it seeks the best satellite reception but also
tilts from side to side.
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The antenna is aimed specifically at airlines flying close to the
equator, such as those in South America and the Middle East, where
other antennas can find it hard to pick up signals, chief engineer
Simon McLellan said.
Honeywell and Inmarsat meanwhile said they were teaming up with
Kymeta to test a new flat-panel design. Kymeta's electromagnetic
metamaterial technology means a beam can be steered and locked to
any satellite without having any moving parts in the antenna.
Honeywell says having Wi-Fi-connected planes is not only good for
passengers but can help airlines save money by making it easier to
share weather and maintenance data to ensure planes are taking the
best routes and spending as little time on the ground as possible.
(Editing by David Evans)
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