Turkish Airlines begins mobile connectivity on-board, starts eXPhone service
As part of renewed efforts to deepen in-flight tailored services and further improve the comfort and satisfaction of its passengers, Turkish Airlines now offers “eXPhone” service for an uninterrupted communication during the flight.
Turkish Airlines, which is Europe’s Best Airline for the sixth consecutive years, said the revolutionary service, will redefine flight experience for its customers across the over 200 destinations while on board.
As an extension of Wi-Fi and live TV availability on its Boeing B777 and Airbus A330 aircrafts, Turkish Airlines said it is being enabled through the initiative to offer mobile internet connectivity by eXPhone to its guests.
Passengers on Turkish Airlines will begin to enjoy the service commencing from April 2017.
The airline in a statement noted that “By using this service, passengers will be able to send text messages (excluding voice messages), check their e-mails and browse internet (including social media platforms) with their own mobile phones”.
The stages of the process for the usage of the service are two-pronged.
“First, the cabin crew will make an announcement to inform the passengers about the service’s current availability for on-board use, after the take-off.
“Second, provided that the “Data Roaming” mode is activated on passengers’ mobile phones, the exPhone service will automatically run, which will be used till the flight is ready for landing.”
The airline also confirmed that the service has been tested to offer communications service that allow its passengers to run their businesses and exchange communication with relatives and friends while on-board.
“The eXPhone service, which is offered in close cooperation with Panasonic and AeroMobile, has successfully been tested on-board during a flight with the participations of our relevant authorities, via one of our cabin attendant’s mobile phone.
Continuing, Turkish Airline disclosed that “The eXPhone service will be billed by the passengers’ mobile phone operators, and the prices will vary depending on their individual roaming contracts. Passengers may find the details of this service in Turkish Airlines’ in-flight magazine, SkyLife.”
Turkish Airlines has always been at the forefront of deploying technology to offer improved flight experience for its customers.
It would recalled that in December, 2016, the airline selected Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s (Panasonic) advanced eX1 in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC) system and Global Communication Services for its new fleet of narrow body aircraft.
The eX1 solution is an advanced narrow-body IFE system. Its uncompromising industrial design, high-definition display technologies and high fidelity audio create a home theater atmosphere that draws passengers into an immersive entertainment experience.
The system will include Panasonic’s unique Passenger Data Integration (PDI) service, which will allow Turkish Airlines to add higher levels of personalisation to its in-flight experience.
The PDI will also allow Turkish Airlines to seamlessly recognize the travel preferences of their guests and recommend content, services and amenities specific that will enhance their experience both in flight and in their destination city.
