The world is huge

Don't miss any of it

Travel news, itineraries, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

X

Coming to Virgin America: Even Faster Inflight Wi-Fi

Of all U.S. airlines, Virgin America has been the most aggressive in outfitting its planes with inflight Wi-Fi. No surprise there: Leading edge inflight entertainment is a cornerstone of Virgin America’s brand.

The airline was first among U.S. carriers to offer Wi-Fi throughout its entire fleet, in 2009. By the end of 2014, Virgin America had upgraded its planes to Gogo’s ATG-4 Wi-Fi, boasting speeds of up to 9.8 Mbps. And this week, Virgin America announced yet another upgrade that will take its inflight Wi-Fi to the next level.

Beginning in September, the airline’s next 10 Airbus A320 deliveries will feature Ka-band satellite WiFi, from ViaSat. According to Virgin America, the new service will support download speeds of up to 140 gigabits-per-second, significantly faster than any current inflight Wi-Fi system and more than adequate to stream online video.

At least until early 2016, when prices for the new service will be introduced, Wi-Fi access on ViaSat-equipped planes will be offered for free.

Reader Reality Check

How important is fast, dependable inflight Wi-Fi access to you?

You Might Also Like:

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From