Airlines rising to wireless need

Wireless Internet service could soon allow airline passengers to send messages, surf the Web, and, yes, check in with the boss at about 9400m above ground.

American Airlines expects to have a test plane operating by December and its whole transcontinental fleet of 767s ready in 2008.

Virgin America also plans to equip every seat-back with high-speed capability by mid-2008, while Alaska Airlines will run a test next spring in the hope of outfitting its whole fleet.