TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Garuda Indonesia will provide internet services on board its aircraft starting in 2019. The company official says the service would be free.

"Garuda Indonesia and Citilink passengers can enjoy free internet access on all Citilink flights and Garuda’s domestic flights,” the airline’s service director Nicodemus Panarung Lampe said in a press conference here on Wednesday, November 14.

Nicodemus said that the service is made available through a partnership between the airline and Mahata Aero Tekhnologi (Mahata).

To provide free internet facilities on board, Garuda Indonesia Group will equip its fleet with the GX Aviation System - a product by Inmarsat Aviation. It will allow passengers to surf the internet during the flight.

"This service is in line with Garuda’s commitment as a national airline that continues to innovate to meet the needs and demands of passengers, especially in the digital era," he said.

Mahata's president director M Fitriansyah said the availability of internet connection on board would be a new beginning for a revolutionary flight experience in the future.

"The internet is vital to enable everyone to exchange information at any time. However, not many people can connect to the internet during a flight. This is a big step taken by us together with Citilink and Garuda," said Fitriansyah.

In 2013, Garuda Indonesia established partnerships with several service providers to provide Wi-Fi on board its B777-300ER and Airbus A330 jets for international flights.

ANTARA