http://www.thestar.com/business/com...2--in-flight-wi-fi-takes-off-except-in-canada
Naughty passengers who secretly use wireless devices while they fly shouldn’t expect in-flight Internet to be deemed nice in Canada anytime soon.
Despite the fact that an Air Canada trial of onboard Wi-Fi on two planes has gone off without a hitch since 2010, the service is still prohibited in Canada – even though the practice that has been widespread worldwide since 2009.
“The result of Air Canada’s trial will help the department assess potential regulatory change,” wrote Transport Canada spokeswoman Maryse Durette in a statement Tuesday. There is no timeline on that change, she said.
Transmitting devices are prohibited because they “might interfere” with navigation and communication systems, although different frequencies make their effects difficult to assess, the statement said. Yet Industry Canada auctioned off a license to provide air-to-ground in-flight communication service to SkySurf Communications Inc. in 2009.
In-flight Wi-Fi is a significant investment and the infrastructure for it is not yet in place, wrote Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick in an email. Only two routes, from Toronto or Montreal to Los Angeles, have the service thus far. But, he added, “those who use it like it.”
WestJet does not offer Wi-Fi on any of its flights, but the airline is examining the prospect, spokesman Robert Palmer wrote in an email. A decision on whether to offer the service will be made sometime next year.
Meanwhile, Virgin America, AirTran, Alaska, American, Delta and other airlines use Gogo, an air-to-ground Wi-Fi provider, to get onboard Internet on all or some of their domestic flights. In the absence of any compelling research saying Wi-Fi prevents avionics from functioning properly, the service has taken off over the past few years.
In-flight browsing is so appealing to travelers that 71 per cent would choose a flight with Wi-Fi access over one with meal service, according to a survey by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a U.S. advocacy group.
“It’s no surprise that airlines around the world are responding by deploying the technology in their fleets,” said Kelly Davis-Felner, the group’s marketing director.
But air-to-ground technology, which doesn’t work above the ocean, may already be passé in the burgeoning onboard Wi-Fi industry. United announced plans in November to install Panasonic Avionics Corp.’s satellite Internet on more than 300 United and Continental planes starting mid 2012, and Gogo partnered with satellite provider Inmarsat to launch a similar service in 2013.
This service, already used by Lufthansa for about $15 (U.S.) for one hour or $27 for 24 hours, will let passengers browse the web even on intercontinental flights.
But even on these flights the Wi-Fi isn’t turned on till planes are thousands of feet in the air – making it tough for Alec Baldwin to play with his smart phone before takeoff.
Naughty passengers who secretly use wireless devices while they fly shouldn’t expect in-flight Internet to be deemed nice in Canada anytime soon.
Despite the fact that an Air Canada trial of onboard Wi-Fi on two planes has gone off without a hitch since 2010, the service is still prohibited in Canada – even though the practice that has been widespread worldwide since 2009.
“The result of Air Canada’s trial will help the department assess potential regulatory change,” wrote Transport Canada spokeswoman Maryse Durette in a statement Tuesday. There is no timeline on that change, she said.
Transmitting devices are prohibited because they “might interfere” with navigation and communication systems, although different frequencies make their effects difficult to assess, the statement said. Yet Industry Canada auctioned off a license to provide air-to-ground in-flight communication service to SkySurf Communications Inc. in 2009.
In-flight Wi-Fi is a significant investment and the infrastructure for it is not yet in place, wrote Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick in an email. Only two routes, from Toronto or Montreal to Los Angeles, have the service thus far. But, he added, “those who use it like it.”
WestJet does not offer Wi-Fi on any of its flights, but the airline is examining the prospect, spokesman Robert Palmer wrote in an email. A decision on whether to offer the service will be made sometime next year.
Meanwhile, Virgin America, AirTran, Alaska, American, Delta and other airlines use Gogo, an air-to-ground Wi-Fi provider, to get onboard Internet on all or some of their domestic flights. In the absence of any compelling research saying Wi-Fi prevents avionics from functioning properly, the service has taken off over the past few years.
In-flight browsing is so appealing to travelers that 71 per cent would choose a flight with Wi-Fi access over one with meal service, according to a survey by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a U.S. advocacy group.
“It’s no surprise that airlines around the world are responding by deploying the technology in their fleets,” said Kelly Davis-Felner, the group’s marketing director.
But air-to-ground technology, which doesn’t work above the ocean, may already be passé in the burgeoning onboard Wi-Fi industry. United announced plans in November to install Panasonic Avionics Corp.’s satellite Internet on more than 300 United and Continental planes starting mid 2012, and Gogo partnered with satellite provider Inmarsat to launch a similar service in 2013.
This service, already used by Lufthansa for about $15 (U.S.) for one hour or $27 for 24 hours, will let passengers browse the web even on intercontinental flights.
But even on these flights the Wi-Fi isn’t turned on till planes are thousands of feet in the air – making it tough for Alec Baldwin to play with his smart phone before takeoff.
