American Airlines Offers In-Flight Internet

American Airlines is planning to test in-flight paid Internet access for passengers, beginning next year.

If you fly American Airlines next year, you might well be able to get a high speed Internet connection on your flight.   The company has announced that it willprovide the access on its Beoing 767-200 planes on a test basis. The airplanes are primarily used on transcontinental routes. For a fee, passengers will be able to access a virtual private network(VPN) and e-mail capabilities through WiFi-enabled laptops and PDAs.   If it works as well as American Airlines hopes, there are plans to roll out airborne Internet access through its wholefleet. However, Lufthansa has already offered a similar service, which ended in 2006 after Boeing closed its Connexion service, although it’s reportedlyseeking a new partner, and Qantas has said it will offer airborne connectivity next year.   “We understand that broadband connectivity is importantto our business customers and others who want to use their PDAs and laptops for real-time, in-flight broadband communications,” said Dan Garton, American’s executive vice president ofmarketing. “This is part of our continuing effort to enhance the travel experience for our customers and meet their evolving needs.”   The technology will be provided by Air Cell. Each plane will have three antennae which will connect with cellular towers across the U.S. Passengers will receive 802.11a/b/g WiFi signals. American isbelieved to be the first U.S. airline to offer such a service.