Air Carriers Hope To Boost Income By Offering Internet Wireless Service

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Airlines are racing to offer wireless Internet service to increase income and attract more passengers, while bracing for a downturn caused by high fares.

Delta Airlines promises to provide broadband Internet service on its domestic trips by October. JetBlue and American Airlines plan to launch their own Internet service by December. Continental, Southwest and Virgin America are at different stages of planning or testing broadband service for their customers.

Delta announced on Tuesday its Internet service, which will cost passengers $9.94 for short-haul flights that last three hours or less. On longer flights, Delta would charge airborne surfers a $12.95 flat fee.

Mike Boyd, an aviation consultant, predicts airlines that offer Internet links should earn money from the service. Many frequent fliers are hooked on the Internet and suffer from separation anxiety if they are not online for a few hours, Boyd explained.

Passengers with WiFi-enabled laptops, smartphones and PDAs will benefit from Delta's Internet service. They will be able to surf the Web and send emails, but will not allowed to use voice call features of their gadgets due to Federal Aviation Administration ban on cellphone use while airborne.

By the end of 2008, Delta's plans for 75 flights to have WiFi connections, while by summer 2009 all of its 330 domestic aircraft will offer the service. Delta's technology partner is Aircell, an Illinois-based company, which will use special antennas on airplanes and cellphone towers to convert the plane into a WiFi hotspot.

Aircell will provide the same technology to American Airlines and Virgin America.