CARLSBAD, Cailf. and TEL AVIV,
July 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- EL AL
Israel Airlines announced it officially launched its new fast,
reliable commercial in-flight Wi-Fi service, powered by global
communications company, Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT).
EL AL was Viasat's European launch customer. Since first
announcing their relationship, both companies undertook broad
market studies focused on in-flight Wi-Fi passenger demand,
engagement and service offerings, including a customer beta phase
to determine internet package types. EL AL also began to
re-energize its fleet taking on new Boeing 787 Dreamliners—a recent
addition to Viasat's certified platforms.
As of today, 15 EL AL aircraft have been outfitted with Viasat's
latest equipment, providing high-speed connectivity to EL AL's mix
of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Boeing 737-900 aircraft and Boeing
737-800 planes. By mid-2020, EL AL expects to have the majority of
its fleet connected with the Viasat service.
First high-speed Wi-Fi flight
Earlier this week, EL
AL held its "inaugural high-speed Wi-Fi service flight," which flew
from Tel Aviv to Paris on one of its new Dreamliner aircraft.
There were 128 devices connected—many that were streaming movies,
videos, music and even the World Cup semifinal. More than half of
the passengers were filming and streaming videos—some via Facebook
Live, while others were capturing and uploading videos and pictures
of their journey, which they posted to multiple social media sites
from Facebook and Instagram to Twitter.
"Israeli passengers want to keep up-to-date and connected in
real-time even when in the air," said Nimrod Borovitz, director, Strategy and Business
Development at EL AL Israel Airlines. "We invested in the most
advanced in-flight Wi-Fi product from Viasat so that we could best
respond to our customers' interests, from surfing sites, connecting
to emails, using apps, viewing social-media networks, listening to
music and streaming movies and live sports during flights. EL AL
chose Viasat's in-flight Wi-Fi system because they had the most
advanced product."
Viasat is recognized as one of the world leaders in satellite
communications and a leading in-flight service provider. The
Company's in-flight Wi-Fi system will offer passengers the
highest-speed Ka-band connection, which gives EL AL passengers the
ability to stream more internet content—faster, as well as keep
flight crews connected for enhanced passenger service. When flying
on TransAtlantic routes, the system will connect to
the ViaSat-2 satellite, which has the most Ka-band capacity
over the Atlantic Ocean, giving passengers a high performing
internet connection from across North America and
the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. Specific to
European flights, the Viasat service will connect to the KA-SAT
satellite through its European joint venture with Eutelsat, which
offers more capacity over Europe than any other
communications satellite.
"EL AL's high-speed connected fleet continues to raise the bar
in passenger engagement, pilot and crew service quality and airline
technology innovation," said Don
Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial
Aviation at Viasat. "Our in-flight internet service gives EL AL
passengers an enriched flight experience—with access to online
capabilities that matter most to them—just about anywhere EL AL
flies."
Service packages
EL AL will offer three internet
service packages:
- Basic: Passengers can use their smartphones and tablets
for instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp, to access
email and browse EL AL's free sites. The package is free during the
launch period.
- Social: This package builds on the Basic plan, letting
passengers use their smartphones and tablets to access instant
messaging applications, email, free site browsing and for viewing
short videos of up to three minutes. This package cost per
passenger per flight is $9.99, with
discounted rates for Matmid Frequent Flyers and FLYCARD
holders.
- Business: This premium plan lets passengers use their
smartphones, tablets and laptops for instant messaging, email and
free site browsing. Unlike the other plans, users of the Business
package gain additional connectivity capabilities, including
streaming movies, music and more as well as VPN access. Package
cost per passenger per flight is $19.99, also with discounted rates for Matmid
Frequent Flyers and FLYCARD holders.
During the introductory trial period for international flights
from Europe to North America, EL AL will offer the service
free of charge until the fourth quarter of 2018.
About EL AL Israel Airlines
EL AL Israel
Airlines, Israel's national airline, established in 1948
alongside the State of Israel, offers more non-stop flights than any
other airline to/from Israel. EL AL flies to over 50
destinations, and operates flights both domestically and
internationally. EL AL embodies Israel's values of
innovation and caring and is known for its genuine Israeli
hospitality. In 2017, EL AL commenced to receive the 16 Boeing
787 Dreamliners, renewing its fleet of aircraft. For more
information, visit: www.elal.com.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications
company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped shape how
consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world
communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global
communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable,
fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the
ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat,
visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate Blog, or
follow the Company on social media at:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release
contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe
harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include among
others, statements that refer to the timing of connecting
additional EL AL aircraft to Viasat service, the service packages
and pricing offered by EL AL, the capabilities of
the Viasat in-flight internet equipment and the
satellites used to provide the service. Readers are cautioned that
actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ include: contractual problems; product defects;
manufacturing issues or delays; regulatory issues; technologies not
being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not
perform according to expectations; increased competition; the
ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Viasat
satellite systems in the US, or of its joint venture satellite in
Europe; and other factors
affecting the aviation sector generally. In addition, please refer
to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings
available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on
which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Copyright © 2018 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. All other
product or company names mentioned are used for identification
purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective
owners. Viasat is a registered trademark of Viasat,
Inc.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.