ONAIR EXPANDS IN ASIA AS EVA AIR SIGNS FOR IN-SEAT SMS

Taipei – From August, passengers on Taiwan-based EVA AIR, one of Asia’s busiest airlines, will benefit from OnAir’s two-way SMS service. An English-language version will be followed by a Chinese version later in the year. EVA Air is introducing the new SMS service to coincide with the arrival of its first Boeing 777ER this summer, and as part of a major modernisation programme across its fleet of 48 aircraft.  The service, which taps into a mass market worth over US$35 billion a year globally*, will be available to passengers in all cabins and will cost US$1.50 per message sent or received.

Denis Kao, Executive Vice President of EVA Air, said, “Passengers today have become used to a world in which they can keep in constant touch with friends, family and colleagues.  As a consumer-conscious international carrier, we are pleased to be providing the OnAir service at affordable rates to allow our passengers to stay in touch while in the air.”

George Cooper, OnAir CEO, said, “This marks a significant expansion of our presence in Asia, which is one of the world’s most important markets for text messaging. There is no doubt that this service will differentiate EVA Air from its competitors and emphasise its status as a world-class airline.” The OnAir service allows all passengers to communicate using the in-seat entertainment system to send messages to mobile phones and e-mail addresses, and also to receive replies. The system will be installed on the entire EVA Air fleet over the next few years.  In addition, crew members will be able to use the in-flight SMS service to communicate quickly with ground personnel about important flight or passenger-related information or requests.