American Airline First to Go Online In-Flight
American Airlines Inc. became the first U.S. airline to launch wireless broadband access in-flight, turning a time robbing flight into a productive workday and launching a service that industry officials say will soon be a necessity to attract the lucrative business travelers.
American Airlines announced broadband service on its Boeing 767-200 aircraft for nonstop flights to New York and from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami. The company launched the service Gogo on Wednesday. Aircell, which obtained an exclusive frequency license from the Federal Commission Communications, will provide Wi-Fi in all cabins.
Dan Garton, American Airlines' executive VP of marketing, said that American has made “history as the first and only U.S. airline to offer full in flight Internet. We are pleased to provide our customers with the unprecedented ability to stay connected to their family, friends and business associates on the ground via the Internet while traveling 30,000 feet above the United States.”
The cost is just a few dollars more than an in-flight snack and will last the full flight, providing you have the battery power. Service costs $12.95 on flights longer than three hours and include full internet access enabling travelers to surf the Web, check emails, send instant messages and access corporate VPN’s with speed comparable to a Wi-Fi hotspot you'd find at a hotel or café.
For American Airlines, in-flight connectivity is a service nine years in the making and will now will be available on about 28 flights a day served by its 767-200 fleet.
“Today U.S. travel changes forever,” Jack Blumentstien, president and CEO of Aircell said in a statement.