AirTran Airways joins the Wi-Fi crowd

Carrier will be first in U.S. to equip entire fleet with wireless capabilities

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AirTran introduces wireless Internet
May 12: AirTran Airways will become the first large U.S. airline to offer wireless Internet access on every flight. NBC’s Tom Costello reports from the air via Skype.

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updated 10:48 a.m. ET May 12, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - Discount carrier AirTran Airways, a unit of AirTran Holdings Inc., said Tuesday it will offer in-flight wireless Internet access on all 136 of its aircraft by midsummer.

Cost, technology and passengers' willingness to pay for the service are issues some carriers are dealing with as they try to make the service more widely available on their flights. Others say it simply takes time to install the necessary equipment to allow fliers to surf the Internet and send e-mail from their laptops and PDAs from the comfort of their seats.

AirTran is partnering with Aircell, which a few other airlines are also using for their Wi-Fi service.

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