elmernag01: Feature: In-flight Internet: the view from 35,000 feet and three years

Monday, June 6, 2011

Feature: In-flight Internet: the view from 35,000 feet and three years

In-flight Internet access has had its up and downs, and, yes, this article will have its share of aviation-related puns. An aborted launch by Boeing in 2004 seemed to ground the idea, but a second attempt in 2008 has remained aloft. Each day, nearly 1,100 planes—totaling 4,000 flights carrying an average of 500,000 passengers—ply their way over America while carrying WiFi gear from Aircell. Meanwhile, other providers power a few hundred planes in the US and the rest of the globe with either full Internet access or, more commonly, limited GSM-based text and data service.

Despite the volume of equipped aircraft, we're still in the early days— and the continued availability of mile-high WiFi is certainly not guaranteed. It's an expensive, long-term investment to supply consistent and usable broadband Internet service at 35,000 feet. Surveys show people want access, but it's unclear how much (or even if) they'll pay for it. Aircell says that 20 percent of passengers on equipped cross-country flights use its service, but it's mum about numbers on shorter segments.