Lufthansa this week announced that it would relaunch its FlyNet inflight Internet service in mid-2010, following a more than three-year gap in offering passengers onboard broadband capabilities.
The launch customer of Panasonic's new exConnect service, the German-based carrier beginning next year will equip "a major part of its long-range fleet" with satellite-based inflight Internet and other connectivity options, including text message capabilities for mobile phones.
Lufthansa earlier this decade was among the first carriers to offer inflight broadband, but by the end of 2006 withdrew the service when Boeing scrapped its Connexion product. Since Boeing killed Connexion, a new generation of the inflight internet providers—including Aircell, OnAir, Panasonic and Row 44 —have learned lessons from the failed Boeing product, developing onboard connectivity offerings that are cheaper, lighter and easier to install
(BTNonline, May 7, 2007).
Lufthansa and Panasonic did not disclose pricing for the service, though Lufthansa said that "various price models are planned—ranging from a one-hour flat rate to a monthly flat rate." Lufthansa also intends to allow frequent flyers to redeem award miles to use the service.
Lufthansa CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber in a statement this week said, "On long-haul routes, we offer business travelers in particular a range of communication options on par with those available at land-based hotspots or premium hotels."