American expands in-flight Internet access

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines has expanded its in-flight internet service to more aircraft.

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The airline has now made the Wi-Fi service available on 100 MD-80 aircraft, which is two-thirds of the 150 Gogo installations scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009, according to a company news release Thursday.

Fort Worth-based American plans to expand Internet access to about half its fleet of aircraft over the next two years. The Gogo Inflight Internet service was initiated Aug. 20, 2008.

Travelers sign up on the ground and connect once the plane reaches 10,000 feet. Browsers connect to Aircell's Gogo Inflight portal site.

Dan Garton, American's executive vice president of marketing, says the carrier has received "positive feedback from customers who use the service to stay connected while in the air."