Aircell's new EVP of airline solutions, John Happ, will be in
Happ, previously of Frontier and Continental, will hold press briefings about what is in store for Aircell, and how this will have a larger competitive impact on the airline industry.
Aircell intends to launch its connectivity solution, dubbed Gogo, this summer. "Aircell will launch the air-to-ground service on American Airlines first, followed quickly by Virgin America - stay tuned for further partner airline announcements in the coming months," says Aircell.
Aircell's competition in the sector is also readying for launch. Satellite-based broadband connectivity provider Row 44 received a major vote of confidence today from investment firm PAR Capital Management, which led a round of financing that closed at over $21 million.
The funds raised will be used to expand operations and support the "global rollout" of Row 44's satellite-based connectivity system. Commercial trials are scheduled to begin this summer on Boeing 737s operated by Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
As mentioned here last week, Panasonic Avionics is finalizing contracts with suppliers for its eXConnect system, and could announce launch customers in about two months.
on June 4, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply
Does this mean Aircell will finally launch wi-fi domestically? Is Row44 a serious contender?
on June 5, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply
That's correct. We're waiting for news from Aircell about its exact launch date on American Airlines' transcontinental Boeing 767s, but the broad test is supposed to start very shortly. Row 44 trials on Southwest 737s are also expected to occur mid-year. If their technology proves out, they will be a very serious contender to Aircell. It will also be interesting to see if airlines will push forward with broadband plans in the near-term in light of the current industry turmoil. When carriers go into survival mode, they often push back plans for boosting their in-flight offering.