In-flight connectivity: WiFi at 40,000 feet moves a step closer to reality

For passengers, this alliance may change the entire airport experience

Air travel and glitch-free internet access are often considered mutually exclusive, thanks to the technical difficulties associated with making WiFi work at 40,000 feet.

For the airlines, a satisfying online experience is even more elusive. The hardware, software, maintenance and inability to easily switch service providers combine for a very expensive headache.

But there may be some good news on the horizon—a new era of ground-quality internet connectivity that could save carriers billions of dollars. The Seamless Air Alliance, a nonprofit group of 30 companies, says its new tech architecture will make in-flight connectivity systems modular, with open interfaces and components that