United Airlines to trial in-flight Wi-Fi

United Airlines will offer the Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi service on transcontinental flights

United Airlines is to trial an in-flight Wi-Fi service using Gogo, a technology from US telco Aircell that specialises in airborne broadband systems. The system uses a network of ground towers to create a constant data link for airlines.

The company plans to roll out the new service this summer on 13 of its Boeing 757s. The service will cost $12.95 (£8.85) and will initially be limited to flights between New York's JFK airport and San Francisco or Los Angeles International Airport.

"We are investing in products and services that are most important to our customers, and having Wi-Fi access onboard is something that they have told us is key to making their flights more productive and enjoyable," said United senior vice president and chief customer officer Dennis Cary.

United is not the first airline to explore an in-flight internet system. German airline Luthansa has been experimenting with in-flight Wi-Fi since 2004, while American Airlines became the first US carrier to offer the service last summer when it rolled out its own Gogo service. Fellow US airline Delta soon followed suit.