Aer Lingus plans wifi for flights

Passengers on Aer Lingus’s European flights will soon be able to log on while airborne, as the company prepares to roll out in-cabin wireless internet access.

The service, which is being provided by JetBlue Airways subsidiary LiveTV, will be available from mid-way through next year. Customers will be able to to connect their personal mobile devices to the network to send and receive emails, check Facebook and update Twitter,  or browse the internet.

More than 40 aircraft will get the new service, and it will be implemented on a phased basis throughout the fleet.

Aer Lingus has already signed a deal to bring internet access to its long-haul aircraft, a service that is due to become available early in the new year.

"This initiative is in direct response to customer feedback, from both business and leisure customers alike," Aer Lingus chief commercial officer Stephen Kavanagh said. "Having direct access to in-cabin Wi-Fi is top of our customers' wish-lists."

LiveTV has signed a letter of intent, which provides the framework for a definitive agreement to be negotiated. The company already supplies in-flight services JetBlue, Continental, Alitalia, Virgin Australia and Azul.

Pricing for the service has not yet been announced, but a spokeswoman for the airline said it would attract a "small" fee. On long haul flights, business class customers will get access free of charge.

There will also be some filters and restrictions applied to certain content, she said.