Whether it's checking email, communicating with loved ones or finishing a series on Netflix, staying connected in-flight is a priority for passengers, especially business travellers. According to Inmarsat aviation's 2018 in-flight connectivity study, the Wi-Fi is becoming essential for passengers: 66 % of them even consider it to be a necessity.. In fact, the majority of passengers would make use of it (65 %). Naturally, this proportion explodes for business travellers (90 %) and 18-30 year olds in general (91 %).
One passenger in two would even go so far as to sacrifice an in-flight drink to stay connected. However, quality remains a priority for them. Who hasn't experienced the frustration of a shaky Internet connection? 54 % of respondents prefer not to have Wi-Fi rather than a poorly functioning connection.
In many cases, in-flight web access is even a factor in building loyalty: 67 % of passengers would book again with the same airline if it offered Wi-Fi on board its flights. Certain types of customer with special needs would be even more inclined to buy other tickets. For example, 81 % of parents travelling with their children would rebook. Unsurprisingly, business travellers are also making web accessibility a priority: 83 % of those surveyed would stay with the same airline for their next flight.
