In-flight wireless service has come to China on a test run from Beijing to the southwestern city of Chengdu. It's the first time China has tested ground to flight wifi applications on a commercial flight.

Passengers were expecting a routine journey. But Wednesday's Flight CA4116, from Beijing to Chengdu, had something different. Some even got to watch a tennis match through onboard wifi.

"Mobile phones are still not allowed to switch on during the flight. But passengers can use other devices like iPads or laptops to check their email, or read the latest news," said Zhang Yun, Director of On Board Wifi Services, Air China.

Last July, Air China tested on board wifi services through satellite data transmission.

Officials say the new technology creates a better user experience, as ground-to-flight data tranmission provides a bandwidth over ten times wider than satellite data transfer.

"Normally the base stations are used to provide ground signal coverage, but now we turned some of the antenna directions up, so that flying objects in the air can also receive data transmission signals. The downside is that it requires alternations of antennas along the flight route," said Zhang.

So far, the company has equipped only two jetliners between Beijing and Chengdu. But the carrier has big plans. In 2010 Air China became the first commercial flight operator in the country to receive a wifi license.

"In the near future, we hope to have wifi service on all our flights, and the passengers will be able access it while on board," said Fan Deng, vice president of Air China.

And once the system is fully tested, for wifi service, the sky will no longer be the limit.

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