Passengers are looking for more than simply cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages these days. Demand for in flight Wi-Fi is expected to grow six fold over the next four years generating airline revenue of $1.5 billion by 2015 vs. $225 million in 2011.
Initially, airlines viewed in flight broadband as a competitive differentiator. Now airlines see in flight Wi-Fi as a competitive requirement. The airlines focus has shifted from deciding the merit of offering such a service to leveraging their networks to provide a broader breadth of services.
Smartphones and tablets are currently the devices most passengers use on flights to connect to the Internet.
Wi-Fi Access is expected to become a commodity on flights with the airlines revenue opportunity dependent on the services and features they offer, not the connection.
In flight connectivity is growing in popularity in international markets and is expected to rapidly transition in other countries to a competitive requirement similar to what is happening in the U.S.
Virgin America has announced that it will be expanding its in flight Internet service to its seat back displays so that users will be able to go online using their built in entertainment system. In September Delta announced that it will be the first airline to add Wi-Fi service to regional jets. www.cheapfares.com