Air Canada Wi-Fi to be available across North America

Air Canada is introducingWi-Fi access todozens ofits aircraft beginning in May, with the aimof makingwireless internet available on 130 ofits narrow-bodied, North American aircraft by the end of 2015.

Email, internet and mobile device apps will be made available on29 aircraft this year, Air Canada announced Tuesday, making it the second Canadian airline to recently announce Wi-Fiservices on flights.Calgary-based WestJet Airlines saidin February itwill start offering wireless aboard by the end of 2014.

• WestJet to offer Wi-Fi inflight entertainment system
• Airplane electronic device restrictions lifted in U.S.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick saidits service will be comparable to mobile broadband available on the ground.

Prices not finalized

Fitzpatrick said the price hasn't been worked out yet, but could include packages that involve buying access for a certain number of weeks or flights, or as a bundle available in the higher-fare classes.

"It's mostly aimed at business traffic, because they're the heaviest users," Fitzpatrick said.

The service, offered by the Illinois-based companyGogo, is a ground-to-air service and will therefore be available on flights within North America. Gogo will test satellite connections with international flights in 2015, Fitzpatrick said.

Air Canada already offersWi-Fion two Airbus 319 aircraft, and plans to outfit its remaining AirbusA319,A320,A321, Air Canada ExpressCRJ-705,Embraer190 andEmbraer175 aircraft with an air-to-groundWi-Ficonnection.

The Federal Aviation Administration moved late last year to allow passengers to use electronic devices on U.S. flights, but Canadian regulators will have to approve Air Canada's andWestJet'sshiftstoWi-Fi.