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Alaska Airlines Plans To Provide In-Flight Wireless Broadband Next Year

informationweek.com

Row 44 and Alaska Air said they plan to test a satellite-based service next spring with expectations that the airline's fleet can be equipped with Wi-Fi service in 2008.

Alaska Airlines is the latest entry in the sweepstakes to provide in-flight wireless broadband to airline passengers. The airline reported Tuesday that it has teamed up with airborne broadband provider Row 44 to provide the Internet service.
Row 44 and Alaska Air said they plan to test a satellite-based service next spring with expectations that the airline's fleet can be equipped with Wi-Fi service in 2008. Just last week, Virgin America announced that it was testing a ground-to-air broadband service developed by AirCell. American Airlines has also announced that it has been testing AirCell's service.

Row 44 has used Hughes global fleet of geosynchronous satellites in its research. Row 44 said its service focuses on providing in-flight entertainment, cabin crew operations, flight operations, as well as technical operations and cargo services.

Airlines around the world have been working to provide in-flight passenger communications, and their quest has accelerated after Boeing's Connexion in-flight broadband effort failed in 2006. European efforts have primarily focused on approaches using cell phone technology, while U.S. providers have been examining both satellite and ground-to-air cell phone approaches.

Southwest Airlines and JetBlue also are known to be investing heavily in in-flight broadband technologies, although neither airline has made a definitive announcement on when service might be available for their passengers.

Alaska Airlines, which announced its in-flight broadband plans Tuesday at the World Airline Entertainment Association Conference and Exhibition in Toronto, noted that Row 44's satellite-based system can function over land, water, and international borders "enabling service throughout Alaska's route system in Alaska, the lower 48 states, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico." The airline observed that air-to-ground services can't perform in the same way. The airline said it has been working for two years with Row 44 to perfect the in-flight broadband system.

"Alaska's route system and their proven leadership using innovative technology make them an ideal airline for our system's flight testing and early deployment," said Gregg Fialcowitz, Row 44's president, in a statement. "Deploying our service on their routes -- with so many areas that can't be served by air-to-ground systems -- is a perfect opportunity to highlight the benefits of our satellite-based system."

Alaska Air said it plans to equip its 114-aircraft fleet with the technology after testing the Row 44 system on a Boeing 737 aircraft.

 Printable Version  | published Sep 18, 2007