Hoping to soothe delayed passengers, several airlines want to install wireless Internet access in airport terminals that will allow travelers to work, surf the Web or even watch digital movies to pass the time. United Airlines, which had the worst on-time performance in August among the major carriers, announced plans to start its own Internet service next year at 30 airports. David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, a travel advocacy group, sees the move as a panacea for growing bottlenecks at America's airports. Clearly, to make that time more productive, it's a tremendous benefit for passengers.
Some travelers agree.
Wireless access would be dynamite. Delta and United are partners with Aerzone, a San Francisco company backed by major electronic industry players like Nokia Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc., to provide wireless local area networks, or LANs, at airport lounges, gates and terminals. With a properly equipped computer, travelers will be able to connect to their office computers through the Internet, check and send e-mail or shop on the World Wide Web. For those looking for something a bit lighter, the wireless pipeline to the Internet is expected to be large enough to allow passengers to download a DVD movie in three minutes or watch full-screen television. The plans come at a time when relations between airlines and travelers are frayed over delays.