Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has launched a new feature onboard, allowing passengers to send and receive WhatsApp messages during their flight.

The kingdom's flag carrier will offer the WhatsApp service for free for 10MB of text message usage, it said. The new service will first be made available on all domestic flights before moving to international routes.

Launched in collaboration with Sitaonair, this latest advancement once again establishes the airline as a pioneer in both the market, and in advancing inflight connectivity.

Commenting on the launch of the new services, Saudia’s director general Eng Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said: “WhatsApp needs no introduction – it is one of the most popular social media messaging applications in the world, and a favourite of the Middle East. To be offering WhatsApp as a free service to thousands of passengers every day, truly reflects Saudia’s position as the airline carrier of the digital age, and an airline which provides the latest technological advancements onboard. Once more, it is Sitaonair’s flexible approach and digital harmonisation mastery that has enabled us to advance our ambitions, and deliver the inflight connected experience now.”

Dominique El Bez, Vice president of Strategy, Sitaonair, said: “With an estimated one billion people globally using WhatsApp, we are very proud to bring considerable value to Saudia in making WhatsApp messaging available to its passengers. Our flexibility is a key hallmark of our best-in-class service, and it is through this and our impressive digital integration expertise that we have been able to deliver this tailored, popular service to Saudia.” - TradeArabia News Service