Aircell offers Gogo on nine of the 11 major U.S. airlines and on nearly 6,000 business aircraft. The financing will be used to fund growth in both commercial and business aviation markets.

“2010 was the year Inflight Internet went mainstream and Aircell established its leadership in this exciting new mobile Internet venue," said Michael Small, Aircell President and CEO.  

"Since securing our exclusive spectrum license in 2006, we’ve raised more than $500M."

Existing investors include Ripplewood Holdings, a major private equity group, Blumenstein/Thorne Information Partners and other investment entities associated with investor/entrepreneur Oakleigh Thorne.

In 2011, Aircell expects to increase its base of installed aircraft by an average of three per day in the airline market. Gogo is available on all AirTran Airways, Virgin America and mainline Delta Air Lines flights; as well as flights operated by Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways, with service on Frontier Airlines expected to begin shortly.

The Gogo Monthly Subscription is aimed at frequent fliers and is available for $34.95 each month. Aircell says the service automatically renews each month.

"Building on the strong demand for our existing 30-Day product, frequent flyers are telling us that they want a single pass that provides a seamless and convenient way to stay connected across all Gogo equipped airlines," said Michael Small, Aircell’s President and CEO. 

Users can purchase the Gogo Monthly Subscription via the inflight portal. After registering, users will have Internet access on all Gogo equipped flights. The number of airplanes that are Gogo equipped stands at more than 800.

Gogo Monthly Subscription will initially be available on AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta, and Virgin America. Aircell says those airlines have a high percentage of their fleets equipped with Gogo.

Aircell’s goal is to offer airline passengers a variety of pricing options. The company will still offer Gogo passes for single flights starting at $4.95.

Gogo is currently available on all AirTran and Virgin America flights and on some Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, US Airways and United flights. Later in 2010, Gogo will be available on Alaska Airlines and Continental Airlines.

The discount carrier is partnering with Aircell to offer passengers inflight Internet service on its entire fleet of Boeing 737 and 717 aircraft. AirTran says all 136 of its jets will be equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet service by mid-summer.

Bob Fornaro

"Installing Wi-Fi on every one of our aircraft is another great example of what sets AirTran Airways apart from our competitors," said Bob Fornaro, chairman, president and CEO of AirTran Airways.

"Giving business and leisure travelers a consistent, high-quality experience at a low price is a top priority. We feel that Wi-Fi on every flight gives us a distinct competitive advantage over other airlines."

Passengers on AirTran will have access to email, instant messaging, and corporate networks via Wi-Fi enabled laptops, smartphone and PDAs. Inflight Internet will be available for a small fee based on the length of the flight.

According to Aircell’s website, passengers with handheld devices can have Internet access for $7.95. Laptop users can connect for $9.95 on flights lasting less than three hours and for $12.95 on flights over three hours. 

Other airlines that offer Aircell’s Gogo Internet service include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Virgin America.
 

American first launched the in-flight Internet service last August on 15 Boeing 767-200 aircraft on nonstop flights between New York JFK and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami.

American says it will install the Aircell system on its MD-80 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft fleets, beginning with 150 MD-80 aircraft this year.

Daniel P. Garton

"Our trial over the past six months offered customers the choice to remain connected to work, home or elsewhere when flying on American Airlines," said Dan Garton, American’s Executive Vice President-Marketing

"And it also gave us the ability to study customers’ willingness to take advantage of high-speed, onboard connectivity and to gauge how the service performed technically in a variety of settings over an extended period of time. We are pleased that the results were positive and that we have decided to move forward."

Aircell charges between $7.95 and 12.95 to use the service depending on the length of the flight.

Other airlines that offer in-flight Internet with Aircell include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Virgin America.

United will be using Aircell’s Gogo Inflight Internet service which will allow customers to surf the Web, check email, and send instant messages. The service will be available to customers traveling in all classes for a flat fee of $12.95.

Jack Blumenstein
Aircell president

"I can’t think of a better way for Aircell to usher in 2009 as the year of Inflight Internet than by announcing our partnership with United," said Jack Blumenstein, Aircell president & CEO.

"Forward-thinking airlines like United are putting the power of Gogo in their passengers’ hands and reaping the revenue and customer loyalty benefits that it brings."

United says that Gogo will initially be available on 13 of its Boeing 757 p.s. aircraft that fly between John F. Kennedy International Airport and California’s two largest airports – Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Depending on customer feedback United and Aircell will consider additional rollout plans.

Aircell currently provides its inflight Internet service to American, Delta, Virgin American, and Air Canada.
 

The airline has announced that it is "marking the beginning of the next wireless revolution."  A bit overstated perhaps. They’re offering in-flight Internet access at $12.95 a flight.

Anyhow, this offering comes in light of a new deal American has made with Aircell for its mobile broadband service Gogo. The service is available immediately on cross-country flights in the U.S. over three hours for the above fee. American notes in a statement that cell phone and VoIP use is not included, but think of all the Twittering you can do!

The service should also inspire a great deal more productivity on business trips – a welcome alternative to listening to the guy beside you snore and working out emergency survival scenarios in your head when you don’t want to watch the latest Martin Lawrence comedy that is being offered on board.

On second thought, maybe "revolution" isn’t such an overstatement after all.  I expect that more airlines and service providers will be reaching similar deals in the near future, so stay tuned.

Delta has partnered with Aircell to install the company’s Mobile Broadband Network on the carrier’s domestic fleet. The system, Gogo, will allow Delta passengers traveling with Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs to access the Internet. The service will be available to customers for $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights more than three hours.

Gogo will be initially rolled out on Delta’s MD88/90 planes and will expand to the remaining fleet of Boeing 737, 757 and 767-300 aircraft in the first half of 2009. Delta says Gogo will be available on 330 aircraft by the summer of 2009.

Aircell paid $31.3 million at a Federal Communications Commission auction in 2006 for the radio frequency previously used for air-phone service. The company does not provide voice service over the Internet and Delta said phone conversations are banned in flight.

 "Our customers asked for in-flight connectivity, and we’re responding by rolling out the most extensive Wi-Fi network in the sky," said Richard Anderson, Delta’s chief executive officer. "Beginning this fall, our passengers will have the ability to stay connected when they travel with us throughout the continental U.S."
 

American has partnered with technology provider Aircell to offer the service. A larger test on flights between New York and San Francisco and between New York and Miami will be in the coming weeks. The airline may also expand the service beyond its Boeing 767-200 planes.

Passengers will be able to download videos, use email, instant messaging and access corporate networks using their laptops or handheld devices.

Aircell’s Gogo service will be free today. Once the initial test phase is complete, it will cost $12.95 for passengers to use the service on flights longer than three hours and $9.95 for shorter flights. Voice-based functions will not be enabled.

The system will control the flow of data so users downloading movies or large files will not interfere with other passengers accessing email.

American and Aircell have tested the service for the last three months on the airlines 15-plane fleet of Boeing 767-200s, but today is the first time passengers will have a chance to use the service.

Jack Blumenstein, Aircell’s president and chief executive said the company is in talks with a number of other airlines and plans to have the service available on hundreds of planes by the end of this year and thousands by the end of 2009, according to the Dallas Morning News.
 

The first approval is a Supplemental Type Certificate, permitting installation and operation of Aircell’s in-flight mobile broadband on commercially operated Boeing 767-200 planes. The second approval is a Parts Manufacture Approval that allows for the manufacturing of aircraft parts at the company’s Bensenville, IL. facility.

Joe Cruz
SVP and CTO of Aircell
(Photo Credit: Aircell)

Aircell plans to offer in-flight broadband on American Airlines and Virgin America. The company has not given a specific date as to when the service will be available but says it will roll out sometime in 2008. Aircell said it might add other airlines in the future.

"Having received these critical approvals from the FAA, we now have the ability to rapidly expand to the rest of American’s 767-200 fleet," said Joe Cruz, SVP and CTO of Aircell. "Initially we will provide passengers flying between Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami in-flight Internet, which research indicates passengers want and need," continued Cruz.

"Working collaboratively with the FAA to receive the initial STC helps pave the way for future certifications on additional aircraft used by our airline partners."

The carrier will use AirCell’s broadband Internet service on planes that primarily fly transcontinental routes. AirCell Chief Executive Jack Blumenstein said the company can provide Internet access for about $10 per user.

"Airline customers across the U.S. list broadband access in flight as one of their top wishes," said Blumenstein. "As the first airline to deploy broadband access, American is demonstrating its commitment to the business traveler and to its industry-leading position in technological innovation."

American says Internet access will be available on all of the Boeing 767 aircraft and if the test is successful they could extend the service to the rest of American’s domestic fleet.

Earlier this month JetBlue announced it was partnering with Yahoo and Research in Motion (Rim) to offer in-flight email and instant-messaging services on one of its planes equipped with a wireless network. The carrier also has plans to install the system on its entire fleet if things go well.