Inflight Web in Holding Pattern Inflight Web in Holding Pattern

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Frankston <[email protected]>
Date: December 23, 2006 12:15:42 PM EST
To: Dave Farber <[email protected]>
Subject: Inflight Web in Holding Pattern Inflight Web in Holding Pattern

WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116674995719857365.html?=20
mod=3DdjemTECH



The headline is a frustrating reminder of how far we are from people=20=20
understanding the basic concepts =96 it=92s not the web, it=92s Internet=20=
=20
Connectivity. No wonder people don=92t understand the value of being=20=20
connected with the world while flying! If this same cluelessness were=20=20
extended the airlines would eliminate other =93money-losing=94 perks like=
=20=20
in-flight music and those expensive reclining seats.



The biggest money-loser is ignorance. Like being told by one=20=20
attendant that IR is even more dangerous than those radios even as=20=20
the FAA is saying that the fears of radios are unfounded.

  Inflight Web in Holding Pattern As Obstacles Spur Uncertainty
By ANDY PASZTOR
December 22, 2006; Page B5

A group that includes airlines, equipment suppliers and satellite=20=20
companies hope to breathe new life into an effort to offer Internet=20=20
access to plane passengers, even though Boeing Co. pulled the plug=20=20
after investing about $1 billion in the project.

But so far, arguments over who will subsidize the money-losing=20=20
venture, and how it can be modified to make it more appealing to=20=20
passengers, have impeded progress, people familiar with the matter=20=20
said. Any replacement service also is likely to be more limited in=20=20
number of planes and geographic coverage.

A Lufthansa AG spokeswoman said the carrier is seeking a way to=20=20
restart Boeing's Connexion in-flight Internet system toward the end=20=20
of 2007. It leads a group that includes the Panasonic Avionics unit=20=20
of Japan's Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.; Luxembourg satellite-=20
operator SES Global SA; and Connexion subcontractor ViaSat Inc. of=20=20
Carlsbad, Calif., the people familiar with the matter said.

  . . .

A spokesman for Boeing said it isn't in the talks but keeps working=20=20
with carriers and suppliers to phase out the service by Dec. 31.=20=20
Korean Air, Singapore Airlines Ltd. and other large carriers have=20=20
been involved in the latest talks, the people familiar with the=20=20
matter said.

Write to Andy Pasztor at [email protected]