CONNECTED IN FLIGHT

An in-depth report by ATUL CHANDRA indicates that inflight Wi-Fi will not only enhance the passenger experience but also enhance airline efficiency.

- ATUL CHANDRA

Wi-Fi internet connectivity services in the air are fast improving in India and will transform the passenger experience aboard domestic and international carriers. In-flight Wi-Fi on domestic and international routes will allow travellers to stay connected, browsing, accessing social media, catching up on work, or texting friends and family. The availability of seamless internet access on Wi-Fi-enabled devices at 35,000 feet is a technological feat and as the technology advances, the pace of adoption across Indian carriers is expected to increase. As per a report by Market & Markets, the In-flight Internet market was estimated at $1.6 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.7 per cent from 2024 to 2029. The report stated that modern passengers expect to stay constantly connected, including during flights. "This demand is driven by the need for business travellers to remain productive and leisure travellers to stay entertained and connected to social media," it stated.

Inflight Wi-Fi is no longer a luxury and in today's ever-connected world, travellers expect it, as they can stay seamlessly connected to their work and life while in flight. It will also improve airline efficiency as pilots can continue to have access to online manuals, etc and with continued access to those on the plane, on-ground operators will be able to accommodate any changes required for improved timing, fuelling, scheduling, and planning, well in time before the aircraft's arrival. Today it is easy to forget, but it was as recent as 2019, using in-flight Wi-Fi was a frustrating process, made worse by patchy coverage, slow download speeds, and costly paywalls. However, much of this is now a thing of the past and today the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky is Starlink Wi-Fi, which offers ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 500 megabits per second, for video streaming, gaming, web browsing, etc.