EVA Air selects OnAir SMS service

Airline Industry Information, August 9, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

EVA Air, a Taiwan-based airline, has revealed that the two-way SMS service from OnAir, the partnership between Airbus and SITA INC, is to be introduced to its aircraft this month.

The service is to start as EVA Air introduces its first Boeing 777ER and is reported to be part of a modernisation programme across its 48 aircraft. The OnAir service will be available in all cabins, to all passengers, initially in English with a Chinese version to follow later this year, enabling passengers to stay in touch while in flight. Passengers will use the in-seat entertainment system to send and receive messages to e-mail address and mobile phones.

Crew members will also be able to use the SMS service for fast communication with ground personnel about passenger-related or flight information. The service is set to be installed over the next few years on the whole EVA Air fleet and will cost USD1.50 per message sent or received.

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