American Airlines to Offer WiFi

Filed in archive Aviation News on August 3, 2007

Always connected? Can't live without the internet, especially when in flight? Don't worry. It looks like you can now stay connected in route.

American Airlines announced on Wednesday that it will be the first airline to test WiFi. They plan on using the service on transcontinental routes and charging a fee for its use.

American, a unit of AMR Corp., said it signed a memorandum of intent with AirCell to provide the service.

AirCell will build cellular towers throughout the continental United States to transmit the signals. Planes will has three antennas, two on the bottom and one on top.

The service will work with WiFi-equipped Notebook Computers and PDAs, the airline said.

The Fort Worth-based airline's executive vice president of marketing, Daniel P. Garton, said if the service is a success, it could be expanded throughout American's fleet.

The airline expects demand for the service to come from business travelers.

The use of Internet and wireless signals is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.

AirCell Chief Executive Jack Blumenstein said travelers already bring WiFi-enabled devices on planes. He said they list high-speed Internet service in flight among their top wishes.

AirCell sells Internet service for business jets and helicopters. It said it won an exclusive broadband frequency license in 2006 from the FCC. The company has facilities in Kentucky, Colorado and Illinois.

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