Virgin's In-flight Wi-Fi Coming Monday

Virgin's In-flight Wi-Fi Coming Monday

Virgin America's in-flight Wi-Fi service will launch on Monday for a beta test that is intended to last just one week before a planned commercial launch Dec. 1. The fledgling domestic airline is making one of the most aggressive moves into in-flight broadband, though most U.S. carriers have announced at least trials or other tests.
Virgin plans to have the system from Aircell deployed on all its planes by the middle of next year.



Interest in Wi-Fi on commercial airliners is growing despite the closure of the highest-profile in-flight system, Connexion by Boeing, in 2006. The services, which in general won't allow VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) calls, could be a critical revenue source for ailing airlines as well as a convenience for passengers.



Virgin claims it will be the first airline in the U.S. to deploy in-flight broadband on all its planes. It has some advantages in this mission, since it has only 28 planes and all are new. Virgin America itself only started flights in August 2007.