State-run carrier Air India is in talks with telecom operator BSNL to install Wi-Fi facility on its aircraft. In this regard, it also started talks with international onboard Internet providers. Air India is interested in installing Internet on board as it operates the longest flights out of India and the facility is offered by other airlines, Chairman Ashwani Lohani said.

We are keen to have internet on board as AI operates the longest flights out of India and this is a facility that is being increasingly provided by several leading global airlines. However, we are first trying to find out how much the project costs, and if found feasible, we will like to have the same on our aircraft,” said a senior official. AI chief Ashwani Lohani recently met his BSNL counterpart Anupam Srivastava to take this issue forward.

AI had two years ago approached Geneva-based OnAir, which provides both internet and mobile connectivity. But AI was told that India had rules which needed a local server for airlines wishing to provide internet. Plus the cost was too high.