Brazil's TAM eyes passenger cell phone service

Air Canada is the latest carrier to announce plans for installation of in-flight wireless Internet service. The company has selected Aircell as the vendor for its service. Aircell, whose in-flight WiFi product is called Gogo (www.gogoinflight.com), is also the vendor for some U.S. airlines that are deploying or testing in-flight Web access, including American, Delta and Virgin America. Air Canada said it should begin offering Gogo service next spring on A319 aircraft used on routes between Canada and the U.S. west coast. “Initially, the Gogo system will be powered by Aircell’s existing network and only available in the U.S. in order to make Air Canada’s rollout fast, economical and simple,” a company spokesperson said. “Upon successful completion of the initial phase, Air Canada plans to extend the system throughout its North American and international markets as Aircell’s coverage network expands.” In another in-flight communications development, Brazilian airline TAM said it will become the first airline in the western hemisphere to offer in-flight mobile phone service. TAM said it expects to offer the service on its Airbus A320s beginning in the second half of 2009, using technology developed by OnAir, a joint venture partnership of Airbus and SITA, a leading global telecommunications company focused on the aviation industry.