New SWISS Boeing 777 Offers Inflight Internet, Phoning

SWISS will offer its customers aloft Internet connections for the first time with its new Boeing 777-300ER, which will enter scheduled service on the carrier’s long-haul network in February.

The new twinjet will offer wireless Internet connectivity in all three cabin classes. Access will be provided via a broadband connection and enable guests to surf or send emails on their laptop, tablet or smartphone device. Travellers will have a choice of three data packages for inflight Internet, depending on their needs.

As part of its new inflight connectivity, the airline will also offer a roaming inflight phoning and SMS text message option for a trial one-year period. The prices of the services will be set by the corresponding contractual agreements between the provider of the inflight phone options (AeroMobile) and the customer’s phone service provider.

SWISS will closely monitor the one-year trial phase and assess feedback from its customers.

The new Internet-connected SWISS Boeing 777-300ERs will be gradually deployed from the start of the 2016 summer schedules onwards, primarily on services to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Los Angeles, San Francisco, São Paulo and Tel Aviv.

SWISS is further considering whether to extend inflight Internet connectivity to the rest of its long-haul fleet, i.e. its Airbus A330s and A340s.