Boeing grounds in-flight Web surfing

The prospects of surfing the Internet and receiving e-mail at 35,000 feet took a knock on Thursday as Boeing Co. said it will wind down its service for offering Internet access on board planes.

Although the market may get a boost with newcomers LiveTV LLC and AirCell Inc. developing offerings, cost pressures on airlines make it unlikely that on-board Internet access will be widely available soon.

"We've been looking for ways to connect the cabin, but it has to make sense financially," said Billy Sanez, a spokesman for American Airlines. "It's going to be a bit until we see something feasible."

Upgrading an airplane for Internet service is a complex task, and with fuel prices high, airlines are more focused on keeping costs down rather than offering new, expensive perks.

"It's kind of like rewiring your office," said airline consultant Robert Mann. "It creates a lot of downtime and it's very expensive."
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