Free Wi-Fi coming to S.L. airport in July

Free Wi-Fi access is about to take flight at Salt Lake City International Airport.

So skip the Cinnabon line and save 800 calories. Protect the world from Stephen King's mayhem a little longer by keeping him in the carry-on until you're airborne. Reach instead for that trusty Dell, Compaq or Mac, because you've probably got mail.

What you won't be getting soon, however, is that despised $7.95 credit card charge for 24 hours of Wi-Fi access even though you left 23.25 hours on the meter.

Barbara Gann, the airport's director for public relations and marketing, confirms that no-cost Wi-Fi service for all terminals at Salt Lake International will begin in early July, after the contract with Boingo Wireless expires on June 30.

Boingo has been providing the airport's Wi-Fi since fall 2007, when it acquired the contract in a deal with then-provider Sprint. Fee-based Wi-Fi is frequently cited in traveler feedback as one of the biggest frustrations encountered during their Salt Lake airport experience.

"We've had strong input (on this decision) from our customers," Gann said.

Salt Lake International is following a trend of more and more airports offering Wi-Fi as a free amenity — joining vanguards like Las Vegas, Denver, Portland, Hong Kong, Calgary, Charlotte and Orlando.

"We agree that free Wi-Fi is becoming more and more popular. With longer dwelling times at the airport it's become an expectation," Gann said, noting that adding power outlets and other upgrades are all being made with comfort of the passenger in mind.

Several airports offering free Wi-Fi are doing so by subsidizing the service at a loss. Others are seeking to recoup infrastructure and operating costs through paid advertising.

Gann said Salt Lake has no initial plans to advertise on its Wi-Fi network, but wouldn't rule out the possibility in the future.

Dropping pay Wi-Fi will mean a loss of some future monies. In slightly more than 24 months going back to May 2007, the airport received almost $293,000 in Wi-Fi revenues from its arrangement with Boingo, according to Gann. The airport's annual operating budget is roughly $140 million.

When the Boingo contract ends, the hardware providing current Wi-Fi service becomes airport property, meaning the infrastructure is already installed and paid for, Gann said. Additional operating costs will be kept lower by having existing airport IT personnel handle network maintenance.