The European Aviation Network (EAN) has passed its latest milestone, reaching its 250th activation on a commercial aircraft.
It is currently available on International Airlines Group (IAG) member aircraft of British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.
EAN has been developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom, in partnership with Thales, Nokia, Airbus, Cobham and Eclipse Technics.
Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “EAN has transformed the in-flight broadband market in Europe, offering unprecedented performance that has been truly embraced by airlines and their passengers. Usage has consistently increased since it entered commercial service and EAN experienced record data traffic in the summer and autumn months last year, reflecting an even stronger desire to stay connected amongst passengers flying during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“An important factor in crossing more than 250 aircraft activations, including British Airways’ entire short-haul fleet, has been the record-breaking installation time we have achieved with EAN – less than nine hours per aircraft. This will ensure a smooth rollout on remaining IAG aircraft and we’re excited that even more passengers will soon have access to the industry’s best-in-class inflight connectivity, providing the same quality of broadband that people expect on the ground, from the comfort of their cabin.”
Rolf Nafziger, Senior Vice President at Deutsche Telekom Global Carrier and Global Business said: “EAN is perfectly adapted to Europe’s unique telco infrastructure and a true game-changer in in-flight connectivity. For passengers, it offers an unparalleled connectivity experience while in the air above the European continent. For carriers, it provides a highly compelling business case due to its lightweight, small and low maintenance equipment.”
