Briefs: Air China picks Boeing in-flight broadband

Boeing's airborne broadband system will be used by China's leading airline to give passengers in-flight Internet connectivity ahead of the 2008 Olympics.

Air China will begin installation of Boeing's Connexion system later this year aboard as many as 15 of the carrier's Boeing 747 jets and possibly other long-haul aircraft models.

The goal is to have Air China's fleet wired for Internet in time for the Beijing Olympics, Boeing said Tuesday. The service will be initially available on international routes.

Connexion will allow passengers to go about their business during long flights, giving them access to e-mail and the Internet plus instant messaging and corporate computer networks.

Boeing said in a news release that it expected the international exposure from the Olympics will spur Connexion sales worldwide.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International