Inflight ATI of Irvine, California is working on plans to put ATMs in the air. But, with airports and planes having to worry about terrorism and safety, the extra worry of being robbed in the sky isn't too welcome.
"All that money seems like quite an incentive for crime," said David Fuscus, a spokesman for Air Transport Association, a trade group representing the airlines. "You're putting a bank in the air."
Cathay Pacific Airways plans to install the ATMs on two 747s earlier this year.
According to Inflight's founder, Thomas Lee, many airlines have expressed interest in adding ATMs to their planes.
You may be thinking this is a pretty stupid ideaówho needs an ATM in the air when there are plenty in airports? Well, the 4' x 4' boxes also convert American dollars into other currencies using a daily exchange rate through a satellite feed.
Each machine will carry an average of $100,000 per round trip and bank staff will fill the machines daily. What's the catch? The airlines will be responsible for the additional security.
The Federal Aviation Administration says it will wait until airlines are closer to actually flying with onboard ATMs in U.S. airspace before checking their safety.
