1st July 2023
4 min. read
1855
Malaysia Airlines will begin delivering gate-to-gate connections for more of its passengers at the beginning of next month, joining a select group of airlines that have lately increased their onboard connectivity capabilities.
Specific passenger groups will be given free onboard WiFi connectivity starting on 1st July on airlines operated by the Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG), which consists of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and MASwings. The launch is a part of MAG’s ongoing efforts to improve the overall traveller experience across the airline group.
Following regulatory permission from the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority, Malaysia Airlines will provide “gate-to-gate” connectivity for passengers flying out of Malaysia on foreign flights. The ease of keeping connected via personal electronic devices (PEDs) will be available to Malaysia Airlines passengers starting this coming Saturday, from the time they board the aircraft until they arrive at their destination airport.
Passengers will no longer need to turn off their personal electronic devices (PEDs) during takeoff and landing because of regulatory and aircraft restrictions by turning on “flight mode” on their device. PEDs that fit in the passenger’s seat pocket and are small enough to fit in a pocket are all permitted for use with the service.
The free WiFi service is currently not offered to all travellers in all classes, though. Only travellers in Business Suites and Business Class, as well as Enrich Platinum reward members, will be permitted to take advantage of the new service. The promotion is also only valid through 31st December 2023, and is now time-limited.
The complimentary WiFi will initially only be offered on 20 aircraft from the fleets of Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and MASwings, so those intending to take advantage of the deal should keep that in mind. Although the airline business expects to add WiFi connectivity to additional aircraft this year, it will be somewhat of a lottery if passengers board an aircraft that has the feature.
The product has a data cap of 100 MB per sector and a bandwidth of up to 512 kbps, according to MAG. In a statement, the airline corporation claimed that doing this would guarantee that travellers “can stay connected and productive during their journey.”
Chief Executive Officer of Airlines from MAG Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi spoke about the idea and stated, “We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and innovative travel experiences which places customers at the heart of everything we do. By enabling gate-to-gate connectivity across all our airlines, it allows passengers to stay connected throughout their journey with us; whether it’s to keep their loved ones updated on the move or even get some work done during their flight.”
Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi continued, “As part of our connectivity strategy, we will be actively expanding the number of our aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi to provide an improved in-flight experience to our valued customers. With a focus on safety, comfort, and convenience, we are dedicated to making air travel more accessible and enjoyable for all of our passengers. We will continue to invest in innovative technologies and services to meet the changing needs and provide comfort to our passengers as guests to our home.”
All passengers travelling on Malaysia Airlines and group partner airlines will continue to benefit from the convenience of being connected thanks to a pay-per-use WiFi service (MHconnect), which offers wireless in-flight entertainment (MHstudio) that can be used continuously on PEDs during the course of the flight. In addition to the rollout of free WiFi to specific passenger groups, all passengers will continue to benefit from the availability of free WiFi.
This most recent action is a part of MAG’s strategy to improve the entire passenger experience at all points of contact. In the upcoming months, it plans to launch a number of product enhancement efforts to upgrade the entire cabin experience. According to MAG, this programme would modernise the entire in-flight experience while preserving passenger comfort and safety as its top priorities, from seating to in-flight entertainment.
One of the initiatives that have already been implemented is a refreshed content expansion of the in-flight entertainment provided by Malaysia Airlines, which includes a more than 100% increase in the number of Hollywood movie options and the addition of new content categories, such as podcasts and wellness programmes.
With the release of its limited free WiFi offering, Malaysia Airlines joins the small but growing group of airlines providing more easily accessible WiFi connectivity to their passengers. Recently, considerably more extensive rollouts of free WiFi services have been announced by both Singapore Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
While Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad provide restricted gratis connectivity programmes for particular passenger categories, Jetblue, the industry leader in airline complimentary WiFi, has been providing free WiFi to all customers since 2017.
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Not Just Travel
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chris.pratt@notjusttravel.com
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