Regulator considers allowing Wi-Fi on flights

Flying between Chicago and Miami, passengers can send e-mail, order up a movie from iTunes or surf the web to help pass the time. 

Take to the air between Calgary and Toronto and airlines aren't allowed to offer up a Wi-Fi option, limiting Canadian passengers to whatever entertainment they've brought with them, Air Canada's video selection or WestJet's live TV.

While Wi-Fi is now available on about a third of all planes flying in the U.S., Transport Canada prohibits its use on aircraft in Canadian airspace. 

"It seems a bit absurd you can't get connectivity," says Jay Palter, a social media consultant based in Edmonton, who had an unproductive day recently while off-line during a flight to Montreal. "The whole issue of Wi-Fi is a really important business issue to me.

"Making Wi-Fi available to customers, on a free basis preferably, is really smart for business."

Transport Canada is looking at the possibility of changing its rules, and has allowed Air Canada to put Wi-Fi on two of its planes flying between Montreal or Toronto and Los Angeles, providing an opportunity to test safety conditions around its use. 

Air Canada could also use those planes on other longhaul routes in U.S. airspace. 

However, there is no timeline for the length of the trial, which Transport Canada is using to "assess potential regulatory change," or on a decision.

Karl Moore, an associate professor at McGill University's Desautels Faculty of Management, said the introduction of Wi-Fi is another way for airlines to raise revenue.

"You see U.S. airlines looking to make money, charging for luggage, drinks, meals, Wi-Fi," he said. "They're trying to get as much revenue as they can from you."

He pointed out that Wi-Fi could especially appeal to business travellers, able to get work done in what could normally be dead time. 

Read full article: Calgary Herald, December 20, 2011