Aircell’s Gogo inflight Internet service to be available in first and
economy classes on more than 330 Delta aircraft in 2009, the most expansive
inflight broadband offering of any U.S. air carrier
ATLANTA, Aug. 5, 2008 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) customers traveling
throughout the continental United States will soon be offered the added
convenience of broadband Wi-Fi access onboard the airline’s domestic fleet of
more than 330 mainline aircraft.
Delta is joining with Aircell®, a 17-year leader in airborne communications
for business and commercial aviation, to install the company’s Mobile Broadband
Network on the carrier’s domestic fleet. The system, Gogo™, will enable Delta
customers traveling with Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, smartphones and
PDAs, to access the Internet, corporate VPNs, corporate and personal e-mail
accounts, as well as SMS texting and instant messaging services. Gogo will be
available to customers for a flat fee of $9.95 on flights of three hours or
less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.
“Delta remains
committed to providing a travel experience that maximizes the time our customers
spend with us onboard by offering them even more productivity options,” said
Richard Anderson, Delta’s chief executive officer. ”Our customers asked for
in-flight connectivity, and we’re responding by rolling out the most extensive
Wi-Fi network in the sky. Beginning this fall, our passengers will have the
ability to stay connected when they travel with us throughout the continental
U.S.”
Gogo will be offered initially on Delta’s fleet of 133 MD88/90 aircraft and
will rapidly expand to the remaining domestic fleet of more than 200 Boeing 737,
757 and 767-300 aircraft throughout the first half of 2009. The airline expects
to have more than 330 aircraft complete by summer 2009. The full fleet
agreement between Aircell and Delta will provide a consistent, convenient
experience for customers traveling on the airline who wish to use the Gogo
Internet service.
“The advent of Air-To-Ground (ATG) technology has
made broadband connectivity in the cabin economically viable for the first time
for commercial airlines,” said Jack Blumenstein, President and CEO, Aircell.
“The game has changed and Delta will be among the first to provide an enhanced
customer experience with broadband Wi-Fi access on more than 1,000 daily flights
within the U.S.”
In addition to being the most cost-effective in-flight
broadband technology available, the Aircell system is extremely light, requires
minimal space on the aircraft and is installed overnight, making it a sound
investment in a competitive, high fuel-price environment.
Aircell LLC is
the world’s leading provider of airborne communications. As winner of an
exclusive FCC frequency license in 2006, Aircell has built a revolutionary
mobile broadband network for commercial and business aviation. In 2008, the
Aircell Network and its inflight portal, known as Gogo™, will revolutionize the
commercial airline passenger flight experience, delivering a robust Internet
experience at 35,000 feet. In addition, the Aircell Network provides airlines
with connectivity to operations and a path to enhanced cabin services such as
video, audio, television and more. A similar feature set is available to
Business aircraft operators. Aircell has facilities in Broomfield, Colorado,
and Itasca, Illinois. Aircell’s vision is to give everyone the ability to stay
in touch, in flight™. For more information about Aircell, please visit
http://www.aircell.com/.
Gogo™, powered by Aircell, turns a commercial airplane into a Wi-Fi hotspot
with true inflight Internet access. Passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices, such
as laptops, smartphones and PDAs, can surf the Web, check any e-mail, Instant
Message, access their corporate VPN and more. Plus, Gogo includes free access to
valuable online content from The Wall Street Journal® and Frommer’s®. For more
information about Gogo, please visit http://www.gogoinflight.com/.
Delta Air Lines operates
service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta
Connection flights to 312 destinations in 61 countries. Delta has added more
international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and
is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 44 trans-Atlantic markets. To
Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers 393 weekly flights to 47
destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and
redeem SkyMiles on more than 16,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other
partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that
provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services.
Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to
500 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights,
print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.