Mango News and Developments

[dysan1]

BIG step. Very few carriers globally offer this, let alone budget carriers.

Mango flights between Durban and Jo'burg to have free G-Connect in-flight Wi-Fi

11/12/2012

Airline seeks record number of connections.

G-Connect In-Flight Wi-Fi will be available free of charge to Mango Guests on all enabled flights between Durban and Johannesburg, in both directions. The airline plans to break connectivity records during this time and more than double its lead on the global uptake average of 8%. Mango’s G-Connect In-Flight Wi-Fi service was launched in May this year. The gratis period takes place during December through to 31 January 2013.

Mango expects to transport more than 75 000 Guests on the Durban and Johannesburg route between 11 December until 31 January 2013. “In line with our current above average uptake ratio of approximately 9-10%, our aim is to break all records with a target of more or less 20% of traveller volume on the route,” says Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout. Should Mango achieve this, it would be the highest Wi-Fi usage ratio ever achieved on any route, anywhere.

With an up-time of over 95% and average speeds of 1Mbs on enabled aircraft, the G-Connect In-Flight Wi-Fi service exceeds many terrestrial line speeds. “Even during beta-phase, system performance has been exceptional,” says CEO of G-Connect parent Wireless-G Carel van der Merwe, “and we are confident that when we put the service to the ultimate test by inviting a legion of connections, it will stand up to the challenge.” Van der Merwe adds that the record attempt will play a pivotal role in ensuring technical readiness as the system exits its beta-phase.

Next year Mango and G-Connect plan to introduce on-demand entertainment, live television and limited games across its In-Flight Wi-Fi network. “Imagine an experience beyond email, browsing and tweeting; a fully interactive and user-led entertainment basket available at the click of a mouse or a swipe on a tablet,” says Bezuidenhout, who adds that G-Connect In-Flight Wi-Fi marked the beginning of a new phase in the airline’s history, a future-focused path of network and fleet expansion as well as the introduction of more technology to enhance Mango’s overall travel experience.

Recently Mango became the first South African airline to offer a booking and payment channel through its mobi-site with plans afoot to launch an iPad application soon.

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-s...annesburg-to-h

[waltjie]

Originally Posted by dysan1

Imagine an experience beyond email, browsing and tweeting

A domestic route hardly offers time for more than this IMHO. Maybe on JNB-CPT you can squeeze in an episode of Isidingo or something, yes. But on JNB-DUR? Shucks, one Facebook update and you're already preparing for the landing!

[dysan1]

Hardly different from anywhere else in the world mate. And if u wanna watch a shoe u don't need WiFi for that. This need to be congratulated. Its ahead ahead of almost all world regions

[waltjie]

Look I think it's great that they do all this, as long as they don't inflate their prices to pay for all this tech. Then it kinda defeats the purpose and it's no longer a case of being a LCC (not that they're exactly cheap anyways).

[Lydon]

Great move