CHICAGO, May 10 (UPI) -- German air carrier Lufthansa will become the first airline to offer Boeing's Wi-Fi wireless Internet broadband service aboard its aircraft, USA Today reported.
Lufthansa plans to unveil Wi-Fi on May 17 on non-stop flights between Munich and Los Angeles. The satellite-based system will be installed on the airline's entire 74-plane wide-body fleet over the next year.
Meanwhile, Boeing plans to install the system on 300 planes by 2006. Singapore Airlines hopes to have its first plane equipped this year, to be followed by its entire long-range fleet. Other buyers include Japan, SAS, ANA and China airlines.
No U.S. airline has ordered Boeing's system. The three largest -- American, United and Delta -- formed a coalition to help develop it, then bailed out amid cost cutting following the Sept. 11 attacks.
United, Continental and US Airways offer e-mail or instant messaging through the onboard Verizon Airfone seatback telephone for $16 per flight.
With Lufthansa, passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops will be able to buy access with credit cards at a cost of $30 for the full flight, or $10 for 30 minutes.
