Air Canada has launched a beta trial of in-flight e-mail and internet services, leading the way in providing passengers with the latest in airborne communications and entertainment.
The trial, launched earlier this month, involves five Boeing 767-200s operating North American routes and follows certification of Tenzing Communications' e-mail/internet services on the aircraft last September.
Tenzing's e-mail and "best of the web" internet-type services are available to Air Canada frequent flyers free of charge until 15 May. To access the services, passengers must download Tenzing software on the ground onto their laptop computers and access e-mail/internet services on the aircraft through the Bell Mobility communication system in the handset at the seat.
The service allows Air Canada's frequent flyer passengers to send and receive e-mails inflight and access internet content stored onboard the aircraft. The company plans to add e-commerce services and in-flight internet updates. The company has planned passenger trials with several carriers, including Singapore Airlines, while Cathay Pacific will offer its services on 62 aircraft from early this year.
The Seattle, Washington state-based company is leading the race to field airborne internet-type services, with Honeywell and Inflight online developing similar services, and Boeing and the Rockwell Collins-led In-Flight Network working on longer-term broadband offerings.
Source: Flight International