Johannesburg - Budget airline Mango will be the first South African carrier to offer in-flight internet access with WiFi.
The service is to be launched this year, pending approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout said the service would cost "less than R1 per megabyte".
"The launch of web connectivity on board our aircraft not only underpins Mango's business objectives but allows travellers, in particular our business guests, to leverage a priceless commodity - time," said Bezuidenhout.
Bezuidenhout said the internet service will be operational across Mango's entire fleet of new-generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft. He added that potentially offensive content would be blocked on board, as people's laptop screens were easily viewed by other passengers.
The technology is being supplied by internet service provider company WirelessG. CEO Carel van der Merwe said the aircraft will connect to the internet using satellite technology, which will provide high-speed internet at altitude.
Subash Devkaran, senior manager of the aircraft certification division of the CAA, said his organisation welcomes the application for wireless internet on board commercial airliners.
"We believe installation of this system would facilitate business efficiency in South Africa, thereby contributing to enhanced economic growth in the country," he said.
- Fin24.com