Having previously offered transcontinental airline passangers to ability to connect to the internet via ground based transmitters and receivers, the Gogo firm announced in May 2012 that it intended to offer similar services on trans-oceanic routes by leasing Ku-band communications satellite capacity to provide this. The firm has followed through with this pledge by announcing in December 2012 that it had leased capacity on SES-1, SES-4 nd NSS-703 satellites. The firm is also expected to take capacity on SES-6 when it is launched later this year.
The business of offering internet connectivity on airlines has had a very mixed history. One of the first services offered was the Boeing Connexion service but it closed at the end of 2006 due to lack of revenues. However, with the growth of mobile intenet devices including tablet devices and “smart” mobile phones, on-board internet connectivity has now become a major selling point for airlines. Airlines currently participating in offering the Gogo service include Delta, American Airlines and United.
