Oman Air, has announced an increase in its in-flight mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity business. Between January 2012 and January 2013, the airline experienced a 130 per cent increase in internet package sales and a 180 percent increase in connectivity revenues. Mobile phone connectivity is charged at roaming rates by individual service providers.

Oman Air’s Muscat to London Heathrow service saw the highest use of in-flight connectivity and the most popular method of accessing the internet was via smart phones.

Wayne Pearce, Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Oman Air was the first airline in the world to offer both mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity inflight and I am delighted that our customers value this service so much. The increase in passengers’ use of the service in 2012 underlines their growing expectation that similar levels of connectivity should be available in the air as they are on the ground. I am pleased that the continued increase in uptake since we introduced the service in 2010 shows that Oman Air still leads the field in this area.

“Digital communications are playing an increasingly important role in all our lives and, in addition to on-board connectivity and services such as online booking and web check-in, Oman Air is rapidly expanding its online customer engagement. Our social media presence is growing daily and we are offering many more online-only special offers than ever before."

Coverage is available throughout Oman Air’s range of long haul services, except when flying over countries such as India, which prohibit on-board mobile phone and wi-fi communications. However, the airline’s Muscat to Bangkok services, which overfly India, report the second highest rate of uptake, after Muscat to London.