Connexion by Boeing will conduct a final software load on a Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 late this year and equip a British Airways 747-400 in December in readiness for initial airline trials early next year.
Lufthansa will launch a single aircraft trial, on the Frankfurt-Washington DC route in January, while BA will follow with a single aircraft trial, operating between London Heathrow and New York, a month later.
Everything is in place for the trials, which will be the first airline test of Boeing's broadband in-flight internet and e-mail services, says Stan Deal, director of commercial sales. "Our job is to get this running flawlessly first time," he says.
Boeing is working to finalise its agreement with Japan Airlines that will see the Asian carrier launch Connexion on its long-haul fleet from the first quarter of 2004, initially on the Tokyo-London route.
The three customers are "sparking momentum" in Connexion, says Deal, with discussions continuing with a number of potential customers. This situation is an improvement on the beginning of the year, he concedes, when Boeing was concerned about whether the market for Connexion would materialise following the downturn after the 11 September US terrorist attacks and the loss of its three original customers - and only equity participants - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Deal says Connexion no longer needs equity partners, with the airframer fully funding the new business and having gained airline input from its 15 airline working group. The Working Together initiative has allowed Boeing to refine the Connexion service, which has seen a restructuring of the offering, with live television becoming an option on flights rather than a standard service.
Connexion is flying on 11 business jets and government aircraft, in addition to Boeing's 737 Connexion demonstrator aircraft.
Source: Flight International
