British Airways is likely to start introducing in-flight internet for passengers on most of its aircrafts from next year.
The airline is currently offering the service on some selected flights and it is hoping to bring an end to the trial by end of April 2015 and extend it to other aircrafts.
Speaking to JOYBUSINESS in London, General Manager in Charge of Africa , Middle East and Asia Pacific, Jamie Cassidy said this is part of efforts to offer premium services to persons flying from Ghana on their long-haul flights.
According to Moran Birger, British Airways’ Commercial Manager for Ghana, Accra has been one of the airline’s most important routes and a particular favourite among passengers to the USA.
“We’re privileged to be the oldest and one of the most beloved airlines operating out of Ghana, and we feel particularly rewarded by the fact that our customers in Ghana are just as committed to us as we are to them”, he said.
British Airways began operating daily non-stop flights to and from Accra on a Boeing 767 aircraft in 2002, and upgraded to a Boeing 777 aircraft in 2009.
The airline responded to increasing customer demand by re-introducing its First Class cabin on the route in 2011, and currently operates the daily service on a Boeing 747 SuperJumbo aircraft with four cabins – First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller – catering to both premium and value conscious customers.
“One of the reasons our service is so popular is because our business travellers are able to enjoy the convenience of a full working day in Ghana before flying out to an early morning arrival in London. From there it is an extremely easy onward connection to other destinations, or one can freshen up in the lounges at our award-winning Heathrow Terminal 5 before starting the working day in London” explains Birger.
The airline has in the last decade invested over £5bn in new aircrafts, enhanced cabins, improved catering and in-flight entertainment, and technology. In 2004, British Airways upgraded its online check-in service which was launched in 2000, to enable passengers print out their own boarding pass ahead of travel from the airline’s websiteba.com as well as self-service technology available at selected airports.
In June this year, British Airways treated customers travelling from London to Accra to a live football match, courtesy of a high-speed “wi-fi” Internet service the airline is trialling around the world. “This was one of our biggest and most exciting treats for passengers ever. Imagine sitting next to Ghanaian football legends like John Paintsil and Joseph Addo, cheering on the national team at 35,000 feet! We hope that once it is fully operational, this technology could be rolled on across the fleet.”
Accrording to Birger, British Airways has always been committed to making life comfortable in the air and on the ground. “Our slogan ‘To fly, to serve’ has been at the centre of everything we do because for us, it’s a fundamental promise that we would continue to show our commitment to Ghana for many more years to come.”
Birger promises even more exciting and interesting updates in 2015, including an upcoming cabin refresh on the 747 aircraft – which would involve a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system that will give passengers the choice of more than 130 movies and 400 TV programmes on larger, hi-resolution screens, capable of touch and swipe gestures; universal power socket on every World Traveller Plus seat; and personal USB socket for passengers who go for World Traveller.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
