All Nippon Airways to offer iPod/iPhone connectivity.

Apple’s iPhone (and iPod) comes one step closer to being inescapable with ANA’s (All Nippon Airways) announcement that they’ll be offering a new service on select flights between Narita International (Tokyo) and John F. Kennedy International (New York) from February 2010.

This new service allows all passengers – yes, even those flying economy – to connect their iPhones and iPods to the in-flight entertainment system. Say goodbye to being forced to watch crappy movies/tv show reruns as a means of passing time during a 10+ hour flight; Tokyo-New York travelers now can supply their own in-flight entertainment to watch at their own convenience. To avoid the dreaded possibility of radio interference, passengers will be told to switch their iPhone and iPod devices to airplane mode when using the service.

Good for ANA for stepping up the game, even just slightly. Not sure how I feel about the service being exclusive to Apple devices (why not have just made it into a USB or mini-SD reader?), but consumer convenience and customization is always a plus.

(via Asiajin)