Aircell wins Virgin America airline in-flight Wi-Fi contract

Virgin America is the latest airline to offer travelers in-flight Internet services powered by Aircell’s network.
The service is available on select flights and the airline is expecting to add additional routes by the end of the year. Virgin America also said the service will be available on all flights by the second quarter of next year.
Virgin America surprised travelers with the service during the Thanksgiving holiday. The airline launched Aircell’s Gogo Inflight Internet on Nov. 22 during an event in San Francisco where it marked the first ever “air-to-ground” video stream to YouTube Live. The airline’s first Wi-Fi-enabled enabled plane circled the city with special guests, media and bloggers testing out Gogo on laptops and smartphones.
The airline said the Internet service complements its technology offerings that already include power outlets at every seat, seat-to-seat chat, digital food menu and a digital touchscreen entertainment system.
“Our guests are enthusiastic about the full, unedited Internet experience that Gogo provides – and they expect nothing less from Virgin America’s tech-savvy and innovative service,” Virgin America President and CEO David Cush said in a press statement. “We look forward to being the first U.S. carrier to offer the Gogo service fleet-wide.”
Aircell’s network allows each plane to become a flying Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows travelers to surf the Web, e-mail, instant message and access corporate accounts.
Virgin America becomes the second domestic airline to offer the service. In August, American Airlines launched the first Internet offering to customers on some transcontinenetal flights.
Aircell is also expecting to outfit the Delta/Northwest fleet next year. Aircell also has a deal with Air Canada.
“With two U.S. airlines now offering the Gogo service and more coming soon, today marks the next step toward ubiquitous Inflight Internet,” Jack Blumentstein, Aircell president and CEO said in a statement.
Travlers on flights less than three hours will pay $10 for Internet service. For longer flights, the cost is $13.