US Airways to offer in-flight internet service by early 2010

The United States-based US Airways has become the latest airline to offer passengers Aircell’s GoGo in-flight internet facility.

The in-flight internet service will be provided initially on US Airways’ fleet of Airbus A321 planes on selected domestic routes starting in early 2010.
Passengers using the in-flight Wi-Fi facility will be able to surf the Web, use instant messaging, email as well as access corporate VPN networks.

All Wi-Fi enabled devices, US Airways says in a press release, will work with the GoGo in-flight internet service – including laptops, smartphones and PDAs like BlackBerry Bold, iPhone and iTouch.

The airline says that passengers can check the availability of the Wi-Fi service when buying tickets.

Passengers can connect Wi-Fi enabled devices in the plane’s cabin to an in-plan Wi-Fi network, which, in turn, maintains internet access by communicating with cellular services based on ground.

US Airways has not yet announced a price structure for its in-flight internet service. However, passengers can choose from Aircell’s standard pricing structures that range from $5.95 to $12.95, depending upon the length of the flight and the type of the Wi-Fi gadget the passengers use.

According to US Airways, those routes providing the in-flight internet facility will be displayed on the company’s website. Later in 2010, the airline adds, passengers can see a Wi-Fi icon next to flights having the Wi-Fi access while booking flights on the company’s website usairways.com
In the press release, Andrew Nocella, US Airways’ senior vice-president of marketing and planning, says the in-flight Wi-Fi will let passengers “make the most of their flying time” by doing work while flying or by relaxing and surfing the internet.

Aircell, one of the leading providers of in-flight internet service, has among its customers such major airlines as American Airlines and Virgin America.
US Airways, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, the United States, operates over 3,200 flights daily to nearly 200 destinations.