Etihad Introduces In-Flight Net Service

In a bid to keep up with growing competition, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has forged a deal with Boeing - a business unit of The Boeing Company. The airline has selected Connexion as its provider of high-speed in-flight Internet and live global TV service. The agreement calls for both in-line and retrofit installation of the Connexion on the airline's fleet of 25 aircraft, including Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and Airbus A330, A340 and A380 aircraft. Etihad Airways is expected initially to offer the Connexion service on routes between the Gulf region and Europe and North America. Once installations are complete, passengers will have access to the web, e-mail, corporate intranets, including virtual private network capability and live TV. Etihad Airlines is expected to become the first airline in the world to have each seat equipped with live television and Internet access by mid-2006.