The availability of in-flight broadband connections will surge by 2010, a leading industry group has claimed.
Satellite communications provider Inmarsat said it expects its SwiftBroadband service to grow rapidly in popularity as more passengers demand connectivity.
The company made its comments in the same week that Delta confirmed it plans to offer Wi-Fi access on all domestic flights.
While the US House of Representatives is currently debating a ban on in-flight mobile phone calls, many flyers appear receptive to the prospect of mile-high web access.
Alongside Delta, transatlantic carriers Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Southwest have all struck agreements with broadband providers – reflecting a growing acceptance in the industry that the technology is here to stay.
“The advent of air-to-ground technology has made broadband connectivity in the cabin economically viable for the first time for commercial airlines,” commented Jack Blumenstein, president of in-flight broadband provider Aircell.
On this side of the Atlantic, Inmarsat reports that Ryanair, bmi, Air France, Qantas and Emirates are among the airlines to have expressed interest in its service.
“The initial feedback from customers has been very positive,” chief executive Andrew Sukawaty affirmed. “It’s gone beyond the trial stage now.”
