In-Flight Mobile Phone - Air France & OnAir Team for Service

Air France is the first airline that let its passengers to have an in-flight mobile service on international flights.

Passengers will be able to send and recieve sms and mma with the Mobile OnAir system,
while those with mobile internet access can receive and send emails.During the second half of the trial, passengers will be able to make and receive phone calls, with the service being regulated to maintain passengers’ comfort and well-being.

EASA (European Aviation Safety Authority) has certified that the Mobile OnAir onboard mobile telephony system doesn’t interfere with the radio-navigation instruments.

OnAir has agreements with mobile network operators, including the three major operators in France: Orange, Bouygues Telecom and SFR. How does it work?

Mobile phones connect to a miniature cellular network installed inside this aircraft.
A modem transmits data and calls to a satellite that routes them to a ground station. Data and calls are then routed to the passenger’s usual telephone network. This network is located inside the aircraft.

Phones are used just like on the ground. To make a call on board the aircraft, passengers simply dial the international prefix (+) or 00 + country code + full number (without the 0).

At the end of the six-month trial, Air France will examine the feedback and comments made by customers to determine whether to launch this service on all its flights.