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TAM Signs Contract for Mobile Communications Aboard Its Aircraft

Written by thomas · Filed Under Commercial 

September 10, 2008

thomas

Agreement signed with OnAir will make the company the first in the Americas
to offer this technology

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — TAM Linhas Aereas
(Bovespa: TAMM4 and NYSE: TAM) will be the first airline in the Americas to
offer onboard mobile phone service on its Airbus A320s, to be provided by
OnAir — a joint venture of Airbus and Sita, an organization that develops
cutting edge technology for aviation. A trail-blazing partnership signed
with the company will enable TAM passengers to use their cell phones and
smartphones in flight — for voice, SMS messaging or emails — on South
American routes.

The system is expected to begin working in the second half of 2009. The
startup of operations will depend on approval by the National Agency of
Civil Aviation (Anac) and the National Agency of Telecommunications
(Anatel), as well as the adjustment of legislation that only authorizes
cell phone use when the aircraft is on the ground and the doors are open.

The announcement of the agreement took place this Wednesday in Long
Beach, California (USA) at the trade fair of the World Airline
Entertainment Association (WAEA), the largest event in the world devoted to
onboard entertainment. The system was certified by the European Aviation
Safety Agency (Easa), and its use was recently regulated by the European
Union. The mechanism ensures complete safety for passengers, since it
prevents signals from devices from causing interference in the aircrafts
commands. In addition, should the need arise, the system can be shut down
at any time. The company chose the OnAir system after two years of
assessing connectivity solutions available on the market.

“Offering this advanced technology to our customers confirms our
leadership in the airline market in Brazil, and is one more example of our
constant quest for Service Excellence, one of the pillars of our company,”
states TAM president, Captain David Barioni Neto. “Our passengers,
particularly those traveling in business class, will be able to stay in
contact with their offices and clients, enhancing efficiency and
productivity.”

OnAir president, Benoit Debains, underscored TAM’s status as a pioneer
in adopting this onboard communications system. “We are very pleased by the
fact that TAM, one of the leaders in innovation in passenger service, and
the largest airline in South America, has chosen OnAir to implement this
additional benefit for its passengers,” he said.

SOURCE TAM

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