Wizz Air is conducting passenger trials of the Bluetooth passenger network, fflya, on an A321 aircraft.
Pioneering the use of easy to install window antennas (pictured right) in combination with Iridium Next’s 66 Low Earth Orbit satellites, fflya from AS-IP Tech, gives every passenger free messaging in-flight, allowing over 200 passengers to get an identical and simultaneous service regardless of where they sit in the aircraft and at no cost.
Weighing in at only 6 kgs, fflya is claimed not create the additional fuel burn traditionally associated with heavy Wi-Fi equipment and their huge rooftop antennas and more importantly, fflya can reduce aircraft fuel burn by delivering live operational data that will optimise aircraft performance.
ASIP Tech President Ron Chapman stated: “More than 10 years of development has gone into the creation of fflya and answers the question, ‘Why do I have to pay for connectivity on airlines?’ To see it flying and being enjoyed by passengers is a great reward for the incredible work of the ASIP team. The benefits fflya will create especially for the low-cost airline sector and their passengers, will only enhance this unique service. We will announce more details shortly.”
Installation of the first fflya Bluetooth connectivity kit onboard a Wizz Air UK Airbus A321 was completed in March this year, by Storm Aviation Limited in co-operation with Wizz Air UK Technical services.”
