ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Another school year is about to begin and Gogo® In-flight Internet service has moved to the head of the class as the leading provider of In-flight Internet. Today marks the one-year anniversary of Gogo's commercial launch on American Airlines and with it a year of successes. Since the launch, Aircell has added seven additional airlines, equipped more than 500 aircraft with Gogo and offered the option of in-flight connectivity to more than 22 million passengers.
In its first year, Gogo has gone fleet-wide on AirTran Airways and Virgin America and provided connectivity to hundreds of American Airlines and Delta Air Lines aircraft. As of today, 66% of all flights between JFK and LAX/SFO are Gogo-equipped, with that number expected to reach 92% by the end of this year. United Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada and Northwest (through the Delta merger) have also announced plans to equip their aircraft with the service, solidifying Gogo's reputation as the most widely-accessed In-flight Internet service.
"The growth of Gogo In-flight Internet, coupled with the phenomenal customer feedback we've received, have been a testament to passengers' desire for in-flight connectivity and the staying power this technology is poised to have," said Ron LeMay, Aircell President and CEO. "As envisioned, In-flight Internet is quickly becoming ubiquitous and a 'must have' for passengers. Nearly 2,000 Gogo-equipped flights take off each day, with that number continually climbing, and we are both proud to be leading the charge and excited to see what incredible things Gogo's second year will hold.
In the coming year, travelers will continue heading to the airport armed with their Wi-Fi-enabled devices, from laptops to iPhones, looking to stay connected in-flight. The percentage of our customers who connected to Gogo using mobile devices grew 17% in the last year, and Aircell expects this number to increase further as our lives become ever more reliant on these space saving devices. Both Facebook and Twitter claimed spots on Gogo's list of the top five most accessed sites, as users eagerly updated statuses and tweeted from 35,000 feet - a trend that also can be expected to grow. Keeping this in mind, Gogo will also be marking its first birthday on both pages ( www.twitter.com/go g o inflight and www.facebook.co m / g o g oinfli g ht ), giving Gogo fans an opportunity to participate in the celebration and a chance to win some great prizes.
The last twelve months have shown that Gogo truly is for everyone - from business travelers meeting work deadlines from 35,000 feet and parents looking for 'me' time in the sky, to teens staying connected to their friends through social networks. Be it for business or personal use (like the first-time dad who was able to see pictures of his newly born son in-flight), travelers are increasingly accessing the web in transit and the number of people logging on to Gogo each month is steadily rising. The total number of Gogo-equipped aircraft is also climbing, and is readily available and updated in real-time on www.airc e ll.com .
About Aircell
Aircell(®) is the world's leading provider of airborne communications. As winner of an exclusive FCC frequency license in 2006, Aircell has built a revolutionary mobile broadband network for commercial and business aviation. In 2008, the Aircell Network and its in-flight portal, Gogo(®), revolutionized the commercial airline passenger flight experience by delivering a robust Internet experience at 35,000 feet. In addition, the Aircell Network provides airlines with connectivity to operations and a path to enhanced cabin services such as video, audio, television and more. A similar feature set is available to Business aircraft operators. Aircell has facilities in Broomfield, Colorado, and Itasca, Illinois. Aircell's vision is to give everyone the ability to stay in touch, in flight(®). For more information about Aircell, please visit www.a i rcell.co m .
About Gogo
Gogo(®), powered by Aircell, turns a commercial airplane into a Wi-Fi hotspot with true in-flight Internet access. Passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs, can surf the Web, check e-mail, instant message, access a corporate VPN and more. For more information about Gogo, please visit www.gogoin f light.com . You can also follow 'gogoInflight' on Twitter ( www.twitter.com/ g ogoinflight ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/gog o inflight ).
© 2009 Aircell LLC. Aircell, Gogo and in touch, in flight are trademarks of Aircell or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Aircell LLC
SOURCE: Aircell LLC
Web site: http://www.aircell.com/