In-flight Wi-Fi proves big hit in Asia-Pacific region
Updated: 2016-05-25 07:14
By ZHU WENQIAN(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
The Wi-Fi services will be available from Nov 12, 2015 on China Eastern flights from Shanghai to New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. [Photo/IC] |
Demand for in-flight Wi-Fi has reached a new high among passengers in the Asia-Pacific region, with a new report showing that 90 percent of the surveyed in the region saying the availability of onboard connectivity would influence their choice of airlines.
The report, released by Inmarsat, a London-based leading provider of global satellite communication services, involved a survey of more than 9,000 passengers worldwide who took a flight last year, and carried at least one personal electronic devices onboard. Inmarsat said the Western market has a relatively lower demand, but the difference remains very small.
Chinese passengers are very likely to use in-flight Wi-Fi, as the country has the highest takeup of all the tested Asia-Pacific markets, this shows strong opportunities in the China market, the report revealed.
Bill Peltola, Asia-Pacific regional director of Inmarsat Aviation, said: "The high demand of Chinese fliers to use in-flight Wi-Fi is driven by their motivation of communication activities, and increased appetite to use mobile messaging apps like WeChat (China's major messaging app) and Weibo (China's major micro-blogging platform) on the ground."
"Most Chinese passengers would choose low- and medium-priced packages that consist of basic messaging apps options, as they think those chatting apps are enough. Chinese passengers have a higher-than-average takeup for cheaper options. They remain price sensitive, and are less motivated by high-priced activities like streaming," he said.
Du Ni, a 26-year-old office worker in Beijing, said: "I would bring books and an iPad with pre-downloaded TV dramas, or sleep, when I take a long-haul flight. If the Wi-Fi service is cheap enough, then I would choose it."
Currently, only 3 percent of aircraft operating in the Asia-Pacific region offer in-flight Wi-Fi services. The report said two-thirds of respondents are willing to pay for unlimited internet usage during a flight, indicating the tremendous potential for airlines to use it as a differentiation point to attract more customers.
The survey also showed that 54 percent and 57 percent of Asia-Pacific fliers would choose in-flight Wi-Fi as their preferred service on short- and long-haul flights, respectively, and most think that in-flight Wi-Fi can deliver all of their onboard needs, compared with only 16 percent and 18 percent choosing traditional in-flight entertainment.
In-flight Wi-Fi services emerged in the United States a few years ago, and then spread to Europe, and only came to the Asia-Pacific region recently.
Most airlines decide their own prices for Wi-Fi services, and passengers would be able to pay beforehand when buying the tickets, or pay onboard. Some basic connectivity options are free, and the low-cost package carries a price tag of $5, in addition to a high-end package for about $20, which covers unlimited usage of long-haul flight.
Today's Top News
London's financial centre warns of dangers of Brexit
Russia blasts NATO for Cold War mentality
Vietnam, US adopt statement on partnership
Alibaba expands in Belgium amid protectionism
Eiffel Tower to become rental apartment for first time
Wreckage of crashed EgyptAir plane found at sea
Still learning
EgyptAir denies finding wreckage of missing flight
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Obesity time bomb keeps ticking |
Designs on the future |
Fan of the opera |
Eggs 101 the Chinese way |
Internet sovereignty and intellectuals |
CEO says Apple to help China's apps go global |