WiFi availability has become pretty common for most domestic flights, but still has a lot of room to grow in the international realm. It's a great option for those who need to work, or don't have enough legroom to actually get comfortable enough for some quality shut-eye.
Gogo's 2Ku antenna - pic by Paul Thompson
This morning at the Airline Passenger Experience Expo in Anaheim, California, Gogo Inflight announced that it will be providing in-flight connectivity to Virgin Atlantic's existing fleet. Gogo's 2Ku connectivity (a dual Ku radome with two antennas built by Thinkom) is expected to deliver "unprecedented bandwith" to the aircraft. Gogo president and CEO Michael Small said:
"Virgin Atlantic is on the cutting edge when it comes to delivering technology solutions to their passengers and we're extremely excited to deliver the best connectivity solutions to keep their passengers connected anywhere they fly around the world. Virgin Atlantic's relationship with Delta Air Lines will also allow us to build a seamless experience for passengers who fly both airlines."
Virgin Atlantic is Gogo's first European partner. Gogo does not currently have any of its air-to-ground network in Europe, but is evaluating that possibility. This service will be provided using antennas on top of the plane (pictured above), which communicate with satellites.
Top image by Joao Carlos Medau on Flickr (CC Commercial License)