American Airlines is going to become the first U.S. carrier to offer broadband Internet access to customers on its planes.

The service is expected to begin early in 2008 and (at this point) mainly on coast to coast flights. We would have thought Jetblue would have been the first but congrads to American Airlines for having the b*lls to be the first.


AirCell, a provider of aviation communications systems, said Wednesday that it will team up with American to test its new system for providing on-board Internet access -- AirCell's first partner on the project. AirCell says its system, which is based on cellular technology, is less bulky and much cheaper than Boeing's old satellite-based service.AirCell Chief Executive Jack Blumenstein told Reuters that the equipment costs about $100,000 per plane and that airlines can offer the service for about $10 per flight.

We think people would easily paid $3.95 an hour or $9.95 unlimited internet service.