Wi-Fi is already an essential part of everyday life on the ground, with more than three-quarters of those surveyed (78%) believing that it is “fundamental” to daily life. With more than half of passengers (55%) describing inflight Wi-Fi as crucial, meeting the demand for Wi-Fi in the skies is key to improving passenger experience and driving loyalty. inflight

Wi-Fi is now so critical to passengers that two-thirds (67%) would be more likely to rebook with an airline if high-quality Wi-Fi was on offer. Globally, passengers ranked inflight Wi-Fi as the fourth most important factor that they consider when choosing an airline, behind airline reputation, free checked baggage, and extra leg room.

The impact of inflight Wi-Fi on loyalty and satisfaction is particularly significant for passenger groups most keen to remain connected in the air. High-value customers, parents, and young passengers are among those most likely to use inflight Wi-Fi services: nine in ten business travellers (90%), parents travelling with children (90%), and 18- to 30-year olds (91%) plan to use the service if it is offered when they next fly.

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Onboard Wi-Fi could also lead to more productive business trips, as almost nine in ten business travellers (87%) would use inflight Wi-Fi to continue working on the plane. Access to Wi-Fi is also an important driver of choice for nervous flyers, as more than half (51%) said that they would use the technology to remain in contact with family and friends on the ground.

The majority of today’s airline passengers are so keen to get online that they will sacrifice other inflight amenities for internet access. Inmarsat’s 2016 Inflight Connectivity Survey revealed that more than half of passengers (54%) would choose Wi-Fi over an inflight meal. Today, passengers are adding alcohol to the list of inflight amenities they would sacrifice to get online, with more than half (53%) suggesting they are even prepared to give up their inflight alcoholic drink in exchange for access to Wi-Fi.

As demand for inflight Wi-Fi soars, uptake is similarly high, as two-thirds (65%) of passengers that had access to the service in the past year chose to use it. However, the demand for quality onboard Wi-Fi is significantly outstripping supply on the fleets of airlines across the globe, as less than half of passengers globally (45%) traveled on flights where it was offered.

READ MORE: In-Flight Wi-Fi & Calls May Cost More Than Your Flight Ticket

Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Wi-Fi is essential to daily life on the ground, and airline passengers see no reason why their time on a flight should be restricted or spent any differently. Whether it’s used for sending that important work email, entertaining the children, or even connecting with fellow passengers, staying online is becoming a crucial part of the inflight experience for today’s airline passengers.

“As the only provider to offer a complete global satellite network, Inmarsat is making high-speed Wi-Fi a reality for passengers on leading airlines across the globe. As demand for quality services continues to soar, we are delighted to be able to bring these services to life for passengers and allow them to stay connected to their daily lives on the ground.”

The Inflight Connectivity Survey highlights include:

• 81% of passengers would use inflight Wi-Fi if it was available on their next flight, rising to 91% of 18-30 year olds, 90% of business travellers and 90% of passengers travelling with children
• 65% of passengers that have had access to inflight Wi-Fi in the last year used it
• 70% of passengers would be likely to recommend inflight Wi-Fi having tried it previously
• 74% of business travellers feel that plane Wi-Fi is crucial, with almost nine in ten (87%) stating that if inflight Wi-Fi was available they would be likely to work and be productive on a plane
• For more than half of passengers (54%), no Wi-Fi at all is better than a poor quality service
• Over two thirds of passengers (67%) would be more likely to rebook with an airline if high-quality in-flight Wi-Fi were available
• This likelihood to rebook rises to 81% of passengers travelling with children, and 83% of business travellers
• More than half (53%) would be willing to give up their inflight alcoholic drink to get online

The Inflight Connectivity Survey reflects the responses of more than 9,300 passengers from 32 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and North and Latin America, and is the largest global survey of passenger attitudes.

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