AirTran Adds Wi-Fi To All PlanesAirTran Adds Wi-Fi To All Planes

AirTran Airways reported Tuesday that its entire 136-aircraft fleet has been outfitted with Wi-Fi, making it the largest US carrier able to offer the wireless technology to all of its passengers.

The pay-for-use Gogo Inflight Internet service was installed by Aircell, which uses a network of ground towers that beam signals to three small antennas located on each aircraft. Aircell built its system after purchasing spectrum that had been used by Verizon Communications' seatback Airfone system.

Passengers using the system on AirTran will be able to surf the Internet and use most traditional messaging options such as e-mail, instant messaging, and Twitter. Voice and VoIP calls, however, will be blocked in keeping with rules set by U.S. federal regulatory agencies.

An AirTran spokeswoman said passengers will be able to access the Internet for about $8 to $13 a flight or less, depending on the device used and the length of the flight.

Bob Fornaro, AirTran chairman, president, and CEO, said in a statement that the fleet-wide installations of Wi-Fi meant that passengers will “know exactly what you’re going to get” with Wi-Fi. The AirTran fleet was outfitted quickly by Aircell and the rollout of Wi-Fi on planes in the US is being accomplished rapidly. Fewer than 40 planes were equipped with the wireless service at the end of 2008 and Aircell executives have estimated that more than 1,000 jets will have the service at the end of 2009.

Virgin America was the first carrier to outfit its entire US fleet -- fewer than 30 planes -- with Wi-Fi and Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are deploying Wi-Fi on many planes. Delta has said it expects to have all of its 300 domestic jets, not including its regional fleet, outfitted with Wi-Fi by September. Other airlines including American are also racing to install Wi-Fi on their domestic planes. A competing in-flight Wi-Fi service is offered by Row 44’s satellite-based service.

The story is different in Europe where OnAir’s in-flight service not only offers Web surfing, but also the capability of making voice calls . The latter feature has been much welcomed by Europeans.

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