American Airlines announces WI-FI service on domestic flights

American Airlines is the first American air carrier that is offering Wi-Fi capabilities to its passengers.  So far the Wi-Fi service is only available on domestic flights.  The Wi-Fi service will be available through the Gogo system produced by Aircell.  Towers used to establish the Wi-Fi service are spread across the United States.

Delta Airlines has also announced plans to integrate the Gogo system into its domestic flights as well but because they are not planning to introduce the system until the fall American Airlines was able to introduce the service on their flights first.

The president of Aircell, Jack Blumenstein, said “Today, U.S. air travel changes forever.  American Airlines is the first to bring in-flight Internet to the market, and today the days of being cut off from the rest of the world while in the air become history.

Passengers interested in taking advantage of the Wi-Fi service should be prepared to pay the $12.95 usage fee.  It is expected that Delta’s fee would about the same.

American Airline’s executive vice president of marketing, Dan Garton, said “With today’s launch, American Airlines makes history as the first and only U.S. airline to offer customers full in-flight Internet connectivity.”

While the ability to offer Wi-Fi connectivity to airline passengers is not a new invention airlines are finding it necessary now more than ever to offer it readily.  As the cost of airfares are climbing through the rough along with the cost of fuel, airlines can make extra profits from the service as well as provide an incentive for a passenger to fly with them instead of a competitor.

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