Israeli airline EL AL has introduced a new in-flight WiFi service supplied by Viasat. The first flight equipped with the system operated recently between Tel Aviv (TLV) and Paris (CDG).
EL AL reports that 15 Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft are already fitted with the Viasat connectivity solution, and the airline plans to equip the majority of its fleet by 2020.
The service is offered in three ticketed packages to suit different passenger needs.
Basic
The Basic package enables instant messaging and email access. For a limited launch period, Basic access is complimentary on international flights between Europe and North America until the fourth quarter of 2018.
Social
The Social package supports short video streaming (up to three minutes per clip) and is priced at $9.99 per flight. Matmid frequent flyer members and Flycard holders are eligible for discounted rates.
Business
The Business package permits streaming of full-length movies and music and includes VPN access. This tier is priced at $23 per flight, with discounts available for Matmid and Flycard customers.
“Israeli passengers want to stay informed and connected in real time, even while airborne. We invested in Viasat’s most advanced in-flight WiFi product to meet customers’ needs—whether surfing the web, accessing email, using apps, browsing social networks, listening to music or streaming movies and live sports during flights,” said Nimrod Borovitz, director of strategy and business development at EL AL Israel Airlines.