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American Begins Wi-Fi Service on Some Flights

Customers can surf the Web using airborne Internet provider

August 21, 2008
American Airlines has become the first domestic carrier to offer in-flight broadband Internet service, beating Delta Airlines to implementation. Delta announced a similar service earlier this month.

Effective immediately, customers traveling on American's Boeing 767-200 aircraft can access complete coast-to-coast coverage on nonstop flights between New York and San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, and New York and Miami. American said it is teaming with Aircell, a provider of airborne communications, to provide the service.

"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 at 30,000 feet above the United States," said Dan Garton, American's Executive Vice President of Marketing. "With today's launch, American Airlines makes history as the first and only U.S. airline to offer customers full in-flight Internet connectivity, demonstrating once again our industry leadership and focus on our customers."

Aircell's Gogo will be available to customers as a fee-based service in all cabins. Aircell will charge $12.95 on flights more than three hours, which include American's Boeing 767-200 flights. Each paid Gogo session includes full Internet access. Cell phone and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services are not available, the airline said.

American says the service will be activated oce the aircraft has reached 10,000 feet. At that time passengers can turn on their Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs, open their browsers and be directed to the Gogo portal page where they sign up and begin surfing. Gogo is powered by the Aircell air-to-ground (ATG) Broadband System, which runs over Aircell's exclusive nationwide network.

While American was first to roll out Wi-Fi, Delta's in-flight Internet service promises to be more extensive. For starters, Delta is adding wireless Internet access to its entire domestic fleet. There is also a two-tiered pricing plan; $9.95 for flights under three hours, $12.95 for longer hauls.

JetBlue, Southwest and Virgin America are all in various phases of testing wi-fi in their aircraft.

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