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United Airlines has introduced onboard satellite-based Wi-Fi internet connectivity on the first of its international widebody aircraft, giving customers the ability to stay connected while traveling on long-haul overseas routes.
The aircraft, a Boeing 747 outfitted with Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s Ku-band satellite technology, serves trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes.
Additionally, United has outfitted Ku-band satellite Wi-Fi on two Airbus 319 aircraft serving domestic routes, offering customers faster inflight internet service than air-to-ground technology (ATG). The company expects to complete installation of satellite-based Wi-Fi on 300 mainline aircraft by the end of this year.
“Satellite-based Wi-Fi service enables us to better serve our customers and offer them more of what they want in a global airline,” said Jim Compton, vice chairman and chief revenue officer at United. “With this new service, we continue to build the airline that customers want to fly.”
Customers have the choice of two speeds: Standard, priced initially between $3.99 and $14.99 depending on the duration of flight, and Accelerated, priced initially between $5.99 and $19.99 and offering faster download speeds than Standard.
United will install satellite-based Wi-Fi on Airbus 319 and 320 aircraft, and on Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft. Customers will be able to use their wireless devices such as laptops, smart phones and tablets onboard those aircraft to connect with internet service using the inflight hotspot.
© Asia Travel Tips
3 Comments
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ebisen
At this price it is surely bound to fail a few years later. Make it free, and you will probably have a handful of customers / plane
WilliB
So now they will have people hunched over their laptops in the already crowded conditions in cattle class? I don´t get it. I certainly will not pay for this.
japan_cynic
Well, I can see it being useful...but it could be cheaper. Some hotels charge as much as $10/day for internet access, though mostly they seem to be going free these days.