Insight | The inflight connectivity imperative in business aviation
That’s according to the respondents in our survey with CJI Magazine, which included an almost equal split of owners (including fractional ownership), charter operators, corporates, brokers and advisers, who collectively operate a broad range of aircraft, from small and mid-size to super mid-size and large.
The fact that such a diverse group of respondents had rated improved passenger experience as nearly six times more important than the next biggest benefit (increasing their aircraft asset value) was particularly telling. Why? Because keeping high-net-worth passengers happy while flying on business jets is a top priority for the business aviation industry as a whole.
And today’s passengers expect to be seamlessly connected. Business doesn’t stop just because they’re in the air, so being offline isn’t an option. This assertion is supported by the vast majority of respondents (82%) agreeing that IFC is now a key passenger expectation – whatever the size of the jet. With almost three-quarters (74%) stating they noticed passenger satisfaction had notably increased since inflight connectivity was offered.
This year’s results have highlighted once again that inflight connectivity is no longer a nice to have in business aviation. It’s a must-have, however, the survey also reinforced that simply having connectivity onboard is no longer enough. Passenger expectations have significantly evolved in recent years, especially during the pandemic as the importance of staying connected – whether for business or leisure purposes – has heightened.”
Regarding inflight connectivity in business aviation, jet owners and operators have a clear idea of what really matters in the cabin. Their focus is facilitating the productivity and entertainment of passengers. But nobody can be productive or entertained when the Wi-Fi drops out. This is why consistent performance was deemed the most important factor when selecting a connectivity solution (31% ranked it as the number one factor, while 62% put it first or second), followed by 100% route coverage.
This shows they want certainty, wherever and whenever the aircraft is flying. They need to know that whatever the airspace and however intense their network demands, principals will not be faced with the spinning wheel of Wi-Fi doom.
The fact that fast speeds were placed third in the importance list might be surprising to some. However, the conclusion that can be drawn from this is that owners and operators know that having the fastest Wi-Fi is pretty pointless if you haven’t the consistency and coverage to use it.
As the inflight connectivity market enters another period of transformation, a flux of new companies is talking up their capabilities, which are almost entirely focused on the theoretical speeds they hope to offer. Much of this is unproven and even then, the results show that speed is only one factor when it comes to delivering gold-standard connectivity.
“Speed without coverage is like an arrow without a bow,” explains Tang. “Which is why consistent global coverage and reliable performance will always come first. As a provider, the biggest compliment is not noticing your connectivity, simply because it always works.”
The survey respondents also recognise that the benefits of inflight connectivity work both ways and that quality inflight Wi-Fi isn’t just good for their passengers. It’s good for them too in terms of return on investment when equipping a connectivity solution on their aircraft.
While 70% of respondents said improved passenger experience was the main benefit of equipping their aircraft with a connectivity solution, 12% said having inflight connectivity enhances the re-sale value of their asset, 9% said it future-proofs their aircraft investment, and a further 9% said it contributes to revenue for their charter flight packages.
Interestingly, later in the survey, the value of inflight connectivity was perceived to be higher for enhancing re-sale value in comparison to delivering a stand-out passenger experience.
“This survey confirms a trend that has been driving the evolution of our aviation services for some time now,” concludes Tang. “For business jet owners, operators and the passengers they serve, inflight connectivity is no longer a luxury. It’s an essential, creating added value in so many different ways.”
