American, Others Look to Add WiFi at Boston Airport

Wireless Internet access appears poised to take off at Logan International Airport after federal regulators this week thwarted a two-year effort by airport officials to shut off private alternatives to airport-controlled $8-a-day WiFi service. American Airlines, the biggest carrier at Logan by passenger volume, will "move as fast as we can" to resume offering WiFi at its Admirals Club lounge in Terminal B, an American spokesman, Ned Raynolds, said yesterday. Service was being offered there by T-Mobile USA before the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan, ordered it shut off. T-Mobile, which American would most likely use, charges $6 for an hour, or $30 for a monthly subscription that offers access at thousands of sites nationwide.JetBlue Airways said it will look into offering free WiFi to passengers in Terminal C. JetBlue currently offers free WiFi at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and the Long Beach, Calif., airport."We are always looking to improve the JetBlue experience in the air and on the ground," said a spokeswoman, Jenny Dervin.

"We are excited about the recent ruling, and we look forward to working with our airports to enhance the JetBlue experience even further."Delta Air Lines had been planning to offer wireless Net access in its Crown Room frequent-flyer club when it opened its $500 million terminal A in March 2005, but backed off after facing legal threats by Massport lawyers. A Delta spokeswoman, Gina Laughlin, said the Federal Communications Commission move assuring airlines they can't have WiFi shut off by airport managers was "positive for consumers," and Delta will investigate offering alternatives to the Massport-controlled WiFi service at Logan.The FCC ruling Wednesday came in response to a challenge brought by Continental Airlines Inc. to Massport's order last year. Continental shut off WiFi at its Presidents Club lounge in Terminal C, months after Massport began offering its own wireless Net access throughout Logan.The FCC ruled Massport overstepped its legal authority and misread federal telecommunications laws.The Massport WiFi service is available at no added cost to people who have WiFi subscriptions with iPass and Boingo, competitors of T-Mobile. Although it costs $7.95 a day for full Internet access, the service does offer free access to airport listings, news headlines, and weather forecasts.

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