Paris - One of the most comprehensive surveys of airline customers worldwide reveals that passengers now not only expect broadband services to be offered as standard during flights, but more than half would prefer in-flight connectivity to in-flight meals.
The In-Flight Connectivity Survey was conducted by Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, and market research company GfK between August 2015 and March 2016.
Responses were gathered from more than 9 000 passengers in Europe, Asia, Australasia, and Central and South America who had taken a short, medium or long haul flight in the past year and carried at least one personal device onboard the aircraft.
Passenger reliance on remaining online using their smartphones, tablets and other devices now means that most travellers (83 percent) will select an airline based on whether they can remain logged into social networks, video streaming sites, apps and emails throughout their journeys. In addition, passengers are willing to pay to receive the best possible service.
The survey also found that most passengers would prefer to connect their smartphones, tablets or laptops to the internet during their journey as opposed to eating a meal, accessing in-flight entertainment or experiencing duty free shopping.
In terms of deciding whether to connect to broadband onboard an aircraft, of upmost concern to passengers is reliability, as identified by 75 percent of respondents, over speed which was a priority for just 19 percent.
Among those who have had the opportunity to use in-flight broadband, one in ten were unable to connect their devices to the aircraft’s network.
Quality is therefore the essential factor for passengers in determining whether to use in-flight broadband. Sixty percent of passengers are less inclined to connect if the service is poor, but a reliable service that does not disconnect at regular intervals can expect to be well used.
Survey Highlights
-- 83% of passengers prefer to choose an airline that offers in-flight broadband;
-- 78% of passengers expect to see onboard connectivity replace in-flight entertainment systems within the next five to ten years;
-- 34% of passengers bring three mobile devices onboard a flight and are willing to pay to connect their phone, tablet or laptop computer to in-flight broadband;
-- In terms of willingness to pay for broadband services on a flight of any length: In Europe - 69% of passengers are prepared to pay; In Asia Pacific - 67% of passengers are prepared to pay; and In Latin America - 64% of passengers are prepared to pay.
Surging demand
The proliferation of electronic portable devices means that passengers expect in-flight broadband to replicate the same levels of connectivity they experience when browsing on the ground. Furthermore, demand for onboard connectivity is not just restricted to long-haul travel, passengers are equally willing to pay to log-in whether they are flying short distances (64 percent), medium haul (68 percent) or long haul (69 percent).
Regional breakdowns
Passengers across the world have different needs when it comes to in-flight broadband, with those in Latin America primarily looking to connect in order to stream video as a priority. They are also most likely to think in-flight connectivity will usurp in-flight entertainment.
Asia Pacific passengers mainly seek access to travel websites and apps. European travellers, who are used to onboard connectivity everywhere they go, want to be able to keep up-to-date and in constant contact with friends and family whenever they travel on flights.
AFP