CONNEXION BY BOEING: Yesterday saw the completion of the two months trial of the in-flight laptop Internet facility by Lufthansa. According to Berhard Conrad, senior vice president of Lufthansa Tecknick who installed the system, called Flynet, it has been a great success. ”It has achieved two things. Firstly it proved the concept, and secondly, and most interestingly, it has raised the whole profile of Lufthansa. On a typical flight between 50 and 60 people have been using FlyNet, which works via a satellite connection. Senior German industrialists, flying first class, who have never tried the Internet, have been captivated.” Herr Conrad is confident that the Lufthansa board will approve the installation across the whole of the Lufthansa long haul fleet including its Airbus 340s. FlyNet was free throughout the aircraft and premium class passengers also had the use of 42 wireless Fujitsu Lifebook S6010 laptops carried on board. He thinks that the wireless system is the way forward and Boeing says that approval by the aviation authorities for the latest laptops from mainstream manufacturers is imminent. With wireless also coming on stream in airport lounges real time Internet contact will in the future be possible on virtually every part of a journey. British Airways has also installed essentially the same ”Connexion” system, on a 747 flying between Heathrow and New York (BA175 and BA112). However it is a plug in function and lacks the wireless laptops. Passengers have to use their own machines. It will remain in service until 12 May and then be evaluated. As part of the trial BA passengers in First, Club World and World Traveller Plus are charged $20 a sector for use. Take up has met expectation with on average four to five requests per sector and there has been no technical problems. Boeing have now signed up SAS and JAL with similar systems and assuming the airlines are still in an investment mood ”Internet in the Sky” looks like taking off sometime in 2004. www.boeing.com/connexion