Glitchy Wi-fi in the sky could soon be a thing of the past, says tech alliance

Air travel and glitch-free internet access are often considered mutually exclusive, thanks to the technical difficulties associated with making Wi-fi work in the sky. 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 non-profit group of 30 companies, says its new tech architecture will make in-flight connectivity systems modular, with open interfaces and components that can easily be swapped out.