One of the last bastions of the life less connected is now under attack from the Irish, writes Sean Fleming.
Aer Lingus is about to make wifi access available on its flights to and from the US. Well, on some of them at least – seven of its A330 planes, to be precise, will be fitted with satellite comms kit from Panasonic.
Following in the wake of Germany’s Lufthansa, Aer Lingus is now the second major European airline offering in-flight wifi, at a cost of course – €10.95 per hour, unless you turned left when you boarded, then you’ll be getting it gratis.
Quoted in the Irish Independent, Aer Lingus’s Chief Commercial Officer, Stephen Kavanagh, said, “Aer Lingus is at the forefront of in-cabin internet access, being just the second European airline to introduce internet access on transatlantic flights. This is another choice we are offering our customers to enhance their Aer Lingus experience. Having direct internet access on flights of up to ten hours in duration, will be of huge benefit to our customers, in particular to business customers.”
There are, seemingly, no plans to enable voice calls. But it surely can only be a matter of time before “hello, hello, you’ll have to speak up, I’m on the plane” becomes an all-too-familiar part of the in-flight experience.
