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Southwest Airlines

Southwest Planning Some WiFi Flights by Year's End

August 28, 2008 at 1:30 PM | 0 Comments

While thinking about in-fight WiFi yesterday, we realized that Southwest Airlines has been awfully quiet on that front lately. So we went ahead and asked the carrier via Twitter how the trials planned for this summer were going.

Apparently, the going is slow:

We will have four aircraft in the 4th quarter of 2008! Get excited!

Just four? Out of more than 500 737s? Well, we do have to admit four is a lot better than one!

Related Stories:
· Southwest's Tweet [Twitter]
· Rampant Speculation: Is United WiFi Coming Soon? [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

In-Flight WiFi

Joe Brancatelli Calls out Airlines on Non-Existant WiFi

August 19, 2008 at 10:15 AM | 4 Comments

We normally don't go for the business travel-oriented ranting of Portfolio columnist Joe Brancatelli but his article this week is totally great. The premise? Where the heck is our in-flight WiFi?

With so many airlines recently announcing big plans for the service, Joe did a little digging to find out why we aren't yet online at 35,000 feet. One executive at American Airlines, which tested Aircell WiFi earlier this summer, says:

This thing should have been working months ago. Obviously, there's something wrong.

Delta, which just announced its plans, is already behind schedule: The carrier says it will have at least some planes fitted with wireless gear by year's end, but the FAA hasn't even looked at the airline's paperwork yet.

Airlines using technology from Row 44 aren't doing much better, it seems. Both Southwest and Alaska are already behind schedule, having yet to test the satellite-based wireless technology.

Related Stories:
· No WiFi in the Sky [Portfolio]
· Dark Horse Delta Announces Massive In-Flight WiFi Rollout [Jaunted]
· Coming Soon-ish: Virgin's Own In-Flight WiFi [Jaunted]

Southwest Airlines

Rampant Speculation: Is Southwest About to Go International?

March 19, 2008 at 11:07 AM | 1 Comment

Now that one low cost carrier has revealed its latest plans, it's time for Southwest to share some news. (God knows the carrier could use some good press.) While it's far from certain, at least one industry watcher thinks the airline could announce something big:

The new CEO of Global [which owns ATA] should be a familiar name. He's the ex-CFO of Southwest Airlines and ex-CEO of ATA: John Denison. And, as we all know, John is very close to current Southwest CEO Gary Kelly.

People tell us this afternoon that we could hear about what Southwest is going to do with ATA's international certificate in as little as 48 hours.

Hmmm... That was about 40 hours ago.

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In-Flight WiFi

Southwest Airlines Announces In-Flight WiFi

January 23, 2008 at 4:44 PM | 1 Comment

Right before New Year's, we heard a rumor that Southwest Airlines would be offering in-flight WiFi sometime this year. Today the carrier announced that it will test satellite-based broadband on four aircraft this summer.

Going the satellite route differentiates the product from what Virgin America and American Airlines are planning; both are working with a company called Aircell. Southwest is partnering with Row 44, the same folks who are putting together an in-flight Internet service for Alaska Airlines. The benefit of a satellite system is that it works anywhere, not just over land.

Obviously this is a play to make passengers feel more productive, per Southwest's new (annoying) advertising campaign. But the Airline Biz Blog is wondering why the carrier would bother with a system that works over the ocean. Could international routes be in the works?

Related Stories:
· Southwest's Internet Announcement [Official Site]
· Southwest and Broadband [ABB]
· Southwest Secretly Preparing In-Flight WiFi [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Guide to Airborne Internet [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112]