Delta and Aircell to provide in-flight Wi-Fi for all domestic U.S. passengers. Image: Scot_w_9/Flickr.
American flight operator Delta Air Lines has today confirmed a communications deal with Aircell LLC that will enable passengers travelling throughout the continental United States to enjoy the onboard connectivity benefits associated with broadband Wi-Fi access.
Set for integration across Delta’s domestic fleet of more than 330 aircraft, the new “Gogo” system will allow any passengers equipped with Wi-Fi enabled devices -- such as laptops, mobile phones and PDAs -- to hook up to the Internet, corporate and personal e-mail accounts, corporate VPNs (virtual private networks), and also SMS and instant messaging services.
The result of a partnership with longstanding airborne communications leader Aircell, which will be installing its Mobile Broadband Network on Delta’s fleet, the Gogo service will be open to all domestic Delta passengers for a flat fee of $9.95 USD during flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 USD for those flights scheduled to require more than three hours of travel time.
“Delta remains committed to providing a travel experience that maximizes the time our customers spend with us onboard by offering them even more productivity options,” trumpeted Richard Anderson, chief executive officer of Delta.
“Our customers asked for in-flight connectivity, and we’re responding by rolling out the most extensive Wi-Fi network in the sky,” he added. “Beginning this fall, our passengers will have the ability to stay connected when they travel with us throughout the continental U.S.”
The Gogo service will initially be rolled out on 133 of Delta’s existing MD88/90 aircraft before then rapidly expanding to cover the remaining 200 or so planes in Delta’s domestic fleet throughout the first half of 2009.
According to Aircell president and CEO Jack Blumenstein, the Gogo deal will see Delta emerge as one of the first carriers “to provide an enhanced customer experience with broadband Wi-Fi access on more than 1,000 daily flights within the U.S.”
Blumenstein also notes that the advent of Air-To-Ground (ATG) technology has now made it economically viable for commercial airlines to pursue the creation of such customer services.
And, from a pricing perspective, Aircell’s Mobile Broadband Network is the most cost-effective in-flight connectivity solution presently available, is extremely lightweight, requires minimal space on the aircraft, and can be easily installed overnight.
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)