by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Tue August 22, 2017
Alaska Airlines has announced a partnership with Gogo which will provide satellite-based, in-flight Wi-Fi service across its entire Boeing and Airbus fleet.
Gogo's broadband 2Ku service will provide Alaska Airlines passengers with faster connection speed enabling travelers, who enjoy cruising the internet or streaming video, to use services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO GO just as they would on the ground.
The new service delivers 20 times more bandwidth than Gogo's air-to-ground product, allowing travelers to stay connected even when visiting destinations outside the continental United States, including Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica.
"We conducted an extensive review to find a satellite Wi-Fi solution that will allow us to give our guests full coverage across our route map, including in the state of Alaska and on flights to Hawaii," Alaska Airlines CCO Andrew Harrison said in a statement.
"Our guests will soon be able to connect in the air just as they do out and about on the ground. This makes traveling more relaxing as well as productive-whether you're scrolling through Facebook, checking email, or watching what's trending on YouTube."
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Once equipped with Gogo's 2Ku service, Alaska Airlines passengers will have gate-to-gate internet access. Pricing will be revealed in the near future and Alaska officials expect the service to be installed on 40 to 50 planes by the end of 2018.
The remainder of the Alaska and Virgin America fleet will be fully equipped by early 2020.
For travelers on Virgin America flights, they will now have access to free chat and movies, two services already available to guests flying on Alaska Airlines. Passengers can use iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger during flights, as well as watch anything on Virgin America's RED in-flight entertainment system.
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