Rumor has it (okay, recent reports have it) that Apple is in negotiations with several airline in-flight entertainment developers to bring iTunes to aircraft seatbacks. This is pretty neat, although I can’t think of any practical reason for this aside from being able to peruse the content. Internet access on flights is still pretty pricey and spotty at best, and I can’t see the ability to just sign in to the iTunes Music Store and download songs and movies as a reality just yet; as once the flight was over and your disembarked the plane, where would your media go? Would you be emailed and allowed to download another copy of what you bought when you get to your own computer? Or are you simply out of luck; having paid the price for luxury media while on the flight alone? Would you be able to hook up your iPod to the plane and pull down your media? The article’s details make it sound like all of these options are being considered, along with other potential challenges that both airlines and Apple might face if they wanted to make this idea a reality across the board.

I could see Apple not so much using iTunes specifically, but using an iTunes like product (perhaps with the ability to purchase the file from iTunes and get it when you get home) to allow people to browse and pay to view media or listen to music on the flight, making themselves kind of a front-end for in-flight entertainment rather than the music store we all know and love. Regardless, the potential is interesting, and I’d be amused to see how they impliment it. With so many airlines going out of business and filing for bankruptcy, this could be a win win for both consumers and airlines-the trick is how well it’ll be applied.

[ Flight :: Apple Talks to Airline In-Flight Entertainment Developers to Bring iTunes to Seatbacks ]