Airborne wifi is taking aviation by storm. According to surveys, inflight Internet service is the number one enhancement that frequent flyers want when they fly.
The good news is that the service creates revenue opportunities for airlines, manufacturers, private jet operators and maintenance shops.
Here is a quick review of the ins and outs of broadband at 41,000 feet.
What companies offer airborne wifi?
Broomfield, Colorado-based Aircell obtained an exclusive license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2006 to provide in-flight broadband service.
What airlines have signed-up?
Most major U.S. carriers offer Internet service on at least some of their aircraft. Currently all Airtran and Virgin America flghts offer broadband, while select Air Canada, Alaska, Americam, Delta, United and US Airways airplanes do. Frontier is under contract to outfit its entire fleet.
How Many Airplanes Offer Internet Service
According to Aircell, 1015 North American airliners do, with more being added weekly.
What is required to add wifi capability to an airplane?
Installation requires just eight hours and a forearm-sized external antenna. The complete system weighs less than 125 pounds, so there is little if any impact on aircraft performance or fuel consumption.
Is high speed Internet service available on business jets?
Yes. Nationwide operators such as NetJets, XOJet and Flexjet are adding Gogo to their entire fleets, while Dassault Falcon Jet, Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft offer the system as an option on newly manufactured jets. Most existing aircraft can be retrofitted for wifi.What is the cost of installation?
The approximate cost is $100,000 per aircraft. Airlines recoup this expense through revenue sharing with Aircell. Most private jet operators offer the service to ensure repeat business but do not share in the revenues.
Why are JetBlue and Southwest Lagging in Providing Wifi?
Nobody can say for sure. JetBlue pioneered live DirecTV service and experimented with free inflight e-mail, IM and Internet access in 2007 and has finally announced plans to equip its fleet. And Southwest has finally said it will roll-out a competing service to GoGo soon. The airline has been testing the system on a limited number of aircraft.Do carriers limit accessible websites?
Due to bandwith restrictions, VOIP calls on services such as Skype are prohibited, as is live video and audio streaming. Airlines can also restrict content that may offend passengers, although for now travelers are mainly limited by their own sense of decency and decorum.Are airborne cell calls the new frontier?
Despite the success of airborne broadband, passengers are unlikely to be able to make cell phone calls any time soon and that’s probably good news for most people. The FAA and FCC continue to stand in the way of applicants wanting to establish airborne cellular service.
Airborne wifi service is the wave of the future. With so much customer demand, carriers that delay installation do so at considerable risk.