American Airlines, First US Airline To Offer Internet Connection On flights
American Airlines will be the first US carrier to provide an Internet connection to it’s passengers. This service will be provided through Aircell, an airborne communications company that holds over 30 patents of the kind. It will allow a broadband connection to the Internet wile in the air.
American will begin testing this new technology on all of it’s 15 Boding 767-200´s (mainly used on the airline’s transcontinental routes) shortly. In fact, American Airlines completed the first Aircell Internet connection installation on one of it’s Boeing 767´s on January 22nd, 2008. The US carrier is planning to update the rest of it’s Boeing 767 fleet with this new technology throughout 2008.
This new system will greatly improve the comfort level for travelers who choose to fly with American Airlines. This is no wonder; it includes a wide range of possibilities. It’s main feature will be a broadband connection to the Internet with similar speeds to those obtained in a conventional wireless or broadband connection on the ground. Passengers will be allowed to access American Airlines VPN (Virtual Private Network). Those who carry with themselves a laptop computer, a Blackberry or a portable game system with a wireless connection will be able to check their e-mail.
The US carrier needs to get over with the testing and certification phase before this service is ready, but once it is, the airline will also offer it’s passengers in-flight information regarding to boarding gates (just in case your flight was delayed and you have to make a quick connection), flight schedule’s and prices. Access to a short version of The Wall Street Journal will be available for all passengers.
There is no doubt whatsoever that being able to check your e-mail while in flight is a great improvement, thus making American Airlines a reliable option whilst thinking on which airline to fly with. However, it is true that this is not the first time this service has been used, nor is American the only airline which is planning to include it in it’s flights.
Boeing already gave it a try.
A few years ago, Boeing had already offered an Internet connection on it’s airplanes for those airlines which requested it. Several of them actually did, including Lufthansa, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Funny enough, not one single American airline seemed to be fond of this service back then. Boeing finally opted not to include it on it’s aircraft after spending well over 1000$ on this system and not having been able to persuade the big airlines to go for it.
Those days are over now, and quite a few American carriers are giving in-flight Internet access a serious thought. Jet Blue has already started to test a new system that will provide Internet access to some of it’s passengers. Such testing is taking place on one of Jet Blue’s Airbus A320´s. However, it must be said that this connection will be limited to checking e-mails and the use of Yahoo’s instant messenger service. Travelers who carry a Blackberry with them will be permitted to use it to check their e-mail as well.
Alaskan Airlines is another American carrier which is undergoing some testing to provide an access to the Web for it’s transatlantic flights, only this time the system will be based on a GPS Internet connection, this is, being able to access the Net through a satellite connection. Virgin Atlantic is another of the big ones that is giving in-flight Internet connection a try. Virgin, just as American Airlines, it will be using Aircell´s technology to access the Web.
Both American and Alaskan Airlines have already announced that they will not allow the use of cellular telephones in their aircraft during the duration of the flight. Virgin, however, hasn’t said so. Who knows, perhaps we will be able to check our e-mail and speak over our phone at 37.000 feet in a few years.
