Passengers will be able to access the internet onboard flights with Lufthansa.

Lufthansa has announced it is relaunching its inflight internet service, FlyNet, from 2010, which will once again allow its customers the freedom to access the World Wide Web from the skies.

The German national airline, Lufthansa, has joined up with Panasonic to equip a major part of its long-haul fleet with FlyNet, an onboard broadband internet service which will allow data transfer over GSM/GPRS mobile networks.

As well as having internet access, passengers will be able to send SMS messages by mobile phone and transfer data using smartphones such as PDA, iPhone or BlackBerry devices. 

Wolfgang Myrhuber, Lufthansa CEO and Chairman commented that the airlines’ customers will once again be able to enjoy a premiere inflight service. He said: “On long-haul routes, we offer business travellers, in particular, a range of communications options on a par with those available at powerful hotspots or upmarket hotels.”

Panasonic Aviation Corporation CEO, Paul Margis, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Lufthansa as the launch customers for Panasonic’s new broadband service, exConnect.

“Lufthansa’s previous experience with passenger connectivity makes them the ideal launch customers for the exConnect service. Lufthansa was a true pioneer with their FlyNet branded service. We are proud to being FlyNet back to their passengers.”

Customers will be given a variety of price models ranging from an hourly rate to a monthly flat rate, and can choose to be billed by a mobile service provider or pay by credit card, though the exact prices have yet to be announced.

Lufthansa offered internet access onboard in 2003, but its then partner, Connexion by Boeing, withdrew the service between 2004 and 2006.