German airline Lufthansa plans to offer broadband access on its short and medium-haul flights from next summer.
It says that a deal with Deutsche Telekom and satellite firm Inmarsat will allow passengers to enjoy “the same speed and quality” of internet surfing that they are used to at home.
Lufthansa has not decided how much the service will cost, but it could be linked to the type of ticket purchased.
Broadband is still relatively rare on short-haul flights.
Norwegian is one of the few airlines to offer broadband for free.
Simon Calder from the BBC’s Travel Show says that, so far, wifi on planes is “not very good” and he does not expect Lufthansa to improve on that.
“It’s feasible to provide a broadband connection at 500mph. But if 150 people want to connect then it is likely to be fragile, and not a great experience,” he said.
However, Lufthansa says its service will be based on the most modern technology available and may be fast enough to offer streaming of videos.
According to Deutsche Telekom the combination of satellite technology and a sophisticated ground network will “deliver the fastest, best and most consistent in-flight broadband experience that meets the needs of airlines in this region”.
