Aeroflot suspends paid Internet access on board 50 aircraft

Aeroflot had to refuse to provide a paid Internet access service during a flight on board 50 aircraft, one source in the airline and two sources close to it told RBC.

In early March, the Internet was still there, but now this possibility is really disabled, one of RBC's interlocutors confirms. According to the second source, the equipment was turned off about a week ago, as it requires support from manufacturers, constant software updates. But because of the sanctions, such updates have stopped coming, he adds.

Until recently, the Internet on board service, which allows passengers to use Wi-Fi Internet access during the flight, was available on 66 aircraft of the company, a source in Aeroflot notes. Such a service could be bought on 25 Airbus 320/321s, 22 Boeing 777s, 12 A330s and seven A350s. Internet access was provided on 31 aircraft by the Swiss company Sitaonair, and on 35 aircraft by the Russian satellite communications operator Stackcom.

While the suspension of paid services for Internet access via Wi-Fi applies to aircraft that use Panasonic and Thales solutions, 16 aircraft still have the ability to access the Internet, RBC's interlocutor clarifies. What equipment is installed on these machines, he does not name. Now, according to the Aeroflot website, the Internet can indeed be used on 16 Airbus A320/321 aircraft.