Wifi in the cattle car = $936 million

My last memory of pleasant air travel goes back to the days of Braniff, when I was barely old enough to travel alone. Seats were comfortable and service was offered without malice. Broadband access could make the current cattle maze / cattle car experience more palatable, and could bring the airlines some badly needed cash.

American Airlines has been outfitting its fleet of 15 Boeing 767-200 aircraft with an air-to-ground system by Aircell LLC and has said previously that it expected to allow customers to test it during the first half of this year.

Southwest Airlines is scheduled to begin test a system by Row 44 Inc. on four of its Boeing 737 planes starting in July. A broader test is scheduled for August, and a spokeswoman said Monday that the technology could be rolled out to customers as early as late summer or fall. (Dallas Morning News)