Inmarsat: Wi-Fi is a necessity, not a luxury

Research released by Inmarsat shows growing demand for inflight Wi-Fi, with 60% of passengers regarding the service as “a necessity, not a luxury.” “The availability of inflight broadband has become a major factor when choosing an airline,” Inmarsat Aviation president Leo Mondale said. Detailing the findings, Inmarsat said passenger expectations are growing, with connectivity playing a greater role in their airline choices. “Nearly half of respondents (44%) said they would stop using their preferred airline within the next year, if it did not offer connectivity enabling them to stream or browse online without interruption,” Inmarsat said. The survey also found that “77% of passengers would pay for inflight connectivity on short-haul leisure flights, an increase from 64% in 2016”. <br/>