Internet addicts, take heart: American Airlines says it will be the first U.S. airline to bring inflight internet access to domestic skies.

The airline said Wednesday that it will test the service next year on some Boeing 767-200 jets that mostly fly transcontinental routes.

American will charge a fee for the hookup but said it did not know how much that would be.

American, a unit of AMR Corp., said it signed a memorandum of intent with AirCell LLC to provide the service.

AirCell will build cellular towers throughout the continental United States to transmit the signals. Planes will have three antennas, two on the bottom and one on top.

Notice that there’s a whole lot of future tense in there. “Next year.” “Will build towers.” Where’s the beef?

We’ve been hearing about the buildout of AirCell for well over a year now, and it hits the news about once per quarter. (Scott McCartney’s last piece on it was on April 3 of this year, if you’re keeping track.)

Boeing tried its hand at a satellite-based system, Connexion, but that folded. Maybe AirCell will do better: Inflight internet would be nice on longer domestic flights, and I’m happy to see an American commit to it. But I’ll believe it when I see it.

Thanks to reader Paul, who quips: “No word yet on whether they’re forcing AirCell to change their name to ‘AAirCell.’” (ThAAnks PAAul!) Sorry.

Related:
- Inflight internet moves closer to reality in American airspace
- “No Cellphones” light to be added to aircraft interiors
- It’s official: Boeing pulling the plug on its inflight internet service, Connexion

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Categorized in: AMR Corp., American Airlines, inflight internet

5 Comments

5 Responses to “Feed the Internet addiction: American Airlines will roll out high-speed inflight wi-fi next year”

1. 
   Rick S Says:
   August 3rd, 2007 at 4:23 pm

   Picture of the month … by far …

   Wonder how many business deals are done on blackberries with people on the porcelain god at airports?

   Not that I would have any personal knowledge …

   What will do with my IPod and Bose Headphones if they add Internet?

2. 
   Oliver Says:
   August 7th, 2007 at 9:51 pm

   So they will set up cell towers across the US, eh? And how long will it take them to have reasonable coverage? With a satellite system that’s “relatively” easy, and it doesn’t matter if you’re flying over Pennsylvania or the Nevada desert — you will always have reception. Is AirCell planning to provide equivalent coverage? How much $$$ do they have?

3. 
   Mark Ashley Says:
   August 8th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

   Outstanding questions regarding coverage rollout and funding. I’ve found no clear answers.

   It sounds to me like the company would be adding equipment to existing cell towers, but at what rate will the rollout happen?

   FWIW, from an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, this nugget regarding pricing:

   American Airlines hasn’t yet set passenger rates for airborne Wi-Fi, but she said the goal is about $10 for a five-hour transcontinental flight, possibly with a premium charge “considering you’re using the Internet at 40,000 feet.” In contrast, she said Connexion would have charged about $30 for similar service.

4. 
   Charles P Says:
   October 8th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

   Forget the computer, that’s the last thing I care about seeing in this shot. Is she hot or what?

5. 5 Ways the Internet F’s Up Your Life : Regretful Morning Says:
   October 23rd, 2009 at 3:02 am

   [...] Source [...]

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