In-flight broadband arriving for short-haul European trips from next year

While travelers in the US and other parts of the world can enjoy internet connectivity on domestic as well as international flights, Europe has been lagging behind, offering only limited options on long-haul journeys.

However, from next summer, Lufthansa will be offering connectivity that’s on par with an average home broadband connection, which should mean a wider range of services remain available to you while you’re jetting through the air.

Normally, you’re restricted to text-based, lightweight services but Lufthansa says passengers will be able to use “superior applications” and stream content. You’ll also be able to send and receive SMS messages but phone calls are still banned due to “customer preferences.”

The German carrier is the first European airline to offer the service on short and medium-haul flights, and the connections are being provided by a deal with Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom.

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Crucially, Lufthansa still hasn’t said how much the new service will cost but we’ll find out when trips start next summer.

➤ Lufthansa to offer broadband Internet on board short and medium-haul flights from 2016 onwards [Lufthansa Group via BBC]

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