Opodo travel news

US fliers offered in-flight internet for £5 a day

5 Apr 2007

Online obsessives will soon be able to check their email and browse the web while up in the air more cheaply than before, under plans from US company AirCell to introduce cut-price in-flight internet to customers flying within the US.

AirCell paid £15 million for the unusued radio frequency auctioned off by US communications authorities in July 2006.

By commandeering the frequencies for internet access, AirCell aims to serve customers who crave connectivity at all times.

Speeds will be as fast as on the ground and connection will cost £5 for day's use.

Although Boeing has offered its fliers Wi-Fi access, it charges them £5 per hour for the privilege.

Laptop Wi-Fi access will be offered to passengers from the start of 2008, AirCell chief executive Jack Blumenstein announced.

But voice over internet phone services such as Skype are initially excluded as an in-flight option and before the service can be introduced, AirCell will need to sign partnership deals with airlines to host the system.

track© Adfero Ltd

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