3 Airliners Pull Out of Boeing Net Deal

[dbaker]

3 Airliners Pull Out of Boeing Net Deal

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) on Wednesday said the top three U.S. airlines canceled plans to invest in its high-speed airborne Internet service, Connexion, though they will continue to help shape the product.

Last June Boeing announced AMR Corp. (NYSE:AMR - news) unit American Airlines, UAL Corp. (NYSE:UAL - news) unit United Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSEAL - news) would help fund Connexion's development, but the airlines have pulled out following the Sept. 11 hijack attacks.

Quite a bummer.

[dbaker]

3 Airliners Pull Out of Boeing Net Deal

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) on Wednesday said the top three U.S. airlines canceled plans to invest in its high-speed airborne Internet service, Connexion, though they will continue to help shape the product.

Last June Boeing announced AMR Corp. (NYSE:AMR - news) unit American Airlines, UAL Corp. (NYSE:UAL - news) unit United Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSEAL - news) would help fund Connexion's development, but the airlines have pulled out following the Sept. 11 hijack attacks.

Quite a bummer.

[dbaker]

Airlines Drop Hi-Speed Internet Plan
Three U.S. Airlines Drop Out of Joint Venture to Develop High-Speed Internet Access on Jets

SEATTLE (AP) -- With new priorities since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks -- including simple survival -- three U.S. airlines have dropped out of a planned joint venture with Connexion by Boeing to develop high-speed Internet access aboard jetliners, Boeing confirmed Thursday.


The project, proceeding with German launch customer Lufthansa, aims to let passengers check e-mail, surf the Internet and maybe even watch television on board jets in flight.

Boeing plans to install and test the service in some Lufthansa plane by late next year or early 2003, spokesman Terrance Cook said Thursday.

After it's been refined, ``then the plan is to roll that service into 80 of their longhaul aircraft,'' he said.

In June, Boeing and three U.S. airlines -- American, Delta and United -- announced plans for a joint venture to install broadband access in 1,500 airplanes, 500 per carrier, with availability beginning in the second half of 2002. The service would cost a passenger about $20 an hour.

[dbaker]

Airlines Drop Hi-Speed Internet Plan
Three U.S. Airlines Drop Out of Joint Venture to Develop High-Speed Internet Access on Jets

SEATTLE (AP) -- With new priorities since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks -- including simple survival -- three U.S. airlines have dropped out of a planned joint venture with Connexion by Boeing to develop high-speed Internet access aboard jetliners, Boeing confirmed Thursday.


The project, proceeding with German launch customer Lufthansa, aims to let passengers check e-mail, surf the Internet and maybe even watch television on board jets in flight.

Boeing plans to install and test the service in some Lufthansa plane by late next year or early 2003, spokesman Terrance Cook said Thursday.

After it's been refined, ``then the plan is to roll that service into 80 of their longhaul aircraft,'' he said.

In June, Boeing and three U.S. airlines -- American, Delta and United -- announced plans for a joint venture to install broadband access in 1,500 airplanes, 500 per carrier, with availability beginning in the second half of 2002. The service would cost a passenger about $20 an hour.