EMEA Special Report

Feel the Width

Wi-Fi use in the cabin and cockpit is on the increase, but should we still be questioning its implementation?

Updated June 17, 2013 6:21 a.m. ET

EUROPE'S SMALLER AIRLINES are proving to be the first movers in the current race to get airborne passengers connected to Wi-Fi. Companies such as Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, Icelandair and Russia's Transaero Airlines are eclipsing progress being made by most of the major carriers, though industry heavyweights say cost and connectivity problems explain their more measured approach. The launch of a satellite specifically targeting airlines, however, is set to trigger more competition as carriers will have extra bandwidth to offer passengers. Unlike ground-based systems, a satellite-based service has the advantage of...

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