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Ask HN: Why don't more domestic flights have wifi?
My assumptions may be wrong, but here they are:
1. The technology exists to easily add an internet connection to any airliner (as evidenced by airlines like Virgin implementing it fleet-wide)
2. Once in-flight wifi exists on a plane, it is priced in a way that is profitable for the airline
3. Customers respond well to wifi availability and appreciate it.
If those are all true, then what could possibly be making airlines like United and American implement in-flight wifi so slowly (I think United is adding internet to 1-2 airplanes per month)?
My only thought is that is actually isn't profitable because not enough people pay for wifi, but that it is valuable for an airline to have messaging like this: "We're adding in-flight wifi to more of our airplanes each month!"
- jleyank 13y agoMany domestic flights have no entertainment, food and limited on-board baggage room. They're 1-2 or 2-2 regional jets chugging along with their cattle for 1-2, maybe 3 hours. Given this environment, why do they need a second-order feature such as wifi when they're not providing things like legroom or room for 20" rolly bags? When the business environment changes such that airlines have to be a bit competitive again, you will see wifi appear (it's probably cheaper than entertainment systems). Unfortunately for those who fly, that's not happening in the next few months.
- jlengrand 13y agoI know Norwegian airlines has wifi on all its planes. :)