Eyeing the communications demands of business travelers, JetBlue Airways is offering free in-flight email and instant messaging access via a partnership with Yahoo, LiveTV and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion.

The in-flight email and IM services will be available on "BetaBlue," the airline's first Airbus A320 equipped with an onboard wireless network, offered through JetBlue's subsidiary, LiveTV. The deal makes JetBlue the first U.S. carrier to provide this service.

"Other airlines have announced plans for similar initiatives, mostly fee-based -- for example, American Airlines and Virgin America [but] in-flight email will be a differentiator, based on business travelers' need to connect -- particularly useful in captive locations with downtime -- and consumers' increasing desire to be connected outside of the home," said Ina Sebastian, a JupiterResearch analyst covering the Wi-Fi and wireless broadband space.

JetBlue passengers will be able to access customized Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Instant Messenger services on their laptops or to access corporate emails on Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry devices from RIM.

The airline will use a wireless spectrum that LiveTV bought from the Federal Communications Commission last year for $7 million.

The JetBlue system made its debut Dec. 11 on Flight 641 from New York to San Francisco.

"Travelers already use public Wi-Fi frequently at airports and hotels, so there is generally demand to be connected," Ms. Sebastian said from her San Francisco base.

High five Wi-Fi
Twenty percent of public Wi-Fi users have accessed airport Wi-Fi in the last year, while 51 percent have logged on to hotel Wi-Fi, according to JupiterResearch.

In an executive survey, the market researcher found that the majority of frequent business travelers showed strong interest in in-flight access. Sixty-seven percent of frequent business travelers were interested in accessing the Internet while on a flight.

Connexion, an inflight online offering, is only available on selected international flights with power outlets. Also, JetBlue has been offering complimentary airport Wi-Fi access, but in-flight access is another differentiator.

There is a "potential opportunity for the integration of advertisements" as a result of this move, Ms. Sebastian said.

Of course, it could be asked why JetBlue chose Wi-Fi over cellular.

Ms. Sebastian found three reasons for that. First, LiveTV is an existing JetBlue partner, with the FCC licensed ground-to-air spectrum. Next, Wi-Fi is a common technology consumers have in their devices, particularly laptops. Finally, Wi-Fi is less expensive and easier to implement.

Meanwhile, AMR Corp.'s American Airlines is among the carriers planning to test broader, fee-based in-flight Internet services in the coming months.

Use of laptops and BlackBerry devices will still be barred during takeoff and landing. And the cellular portion of the devices must be turned off during the flight.

Though business travelers particularly will want in-flight access, the restriction to Yahoo email could limit the system's usefulness. Most users will have to forward their corporate accounts to Yahoo to retrieve important messages while en route.

"Yahoo is a good place to start," Ms. Sebastian said. "Twenty-nine percent of online users use Yahoo as primary personal email accounts."