Alaska seems likely to put Wi-Fi on its planes if it gets a good response from passengers to the in-flight Internet service. Many of Alaska's routes pass over water, and a satellite-backed service is a good fit if passengers are willing to pay for the privilege. It's also a way for the no-extras airline to bring entertainment onboard without installing seatback systems.
Earlier stories reported that Alaska Airlines was also sponsoring free Wi-Fi at the far larger Seattle-Tacoma airport. An Alaska spokesperson just told me that information was in error. The free Wi-Fi underwriting is for Oakland's airport only.