On-board connectivity: a new market is born

Commitments for on-board connectivity grows eight fold in five years

After years of discussions and debate on connectivity, airlines have finally made up their minds. The industry has seen a growing wave of commitments for onboard connectivity; from five airlines trialing the service in 2007 to 45 airlines having deployed connectivity services in their fleet by mid 2011.

Today 16% of the global passenger market has already experience onboard connectivity, and the rise in commitments and installations will continue to grow. For another straight year the SITA Airline IT Trends Surveys revealed that by the end of 2014, 60% of airlines expect to offer Wifi access and mobile telephony to their passengers.

Airbus pioneered connectivity in June 2007, with the first ever certification of an on-board mobile phone system. Since then, Airbus has developed an aircraft connectivity platform that delivers the full breadth of new connectivity services with worldwide coverage.

As of today, 86% of airlines that deployed mobile telephony (54% for Wifi internet access) selected the Airbus solution (North American specific regional context excluded).

Airbus operators have been able to offer worldwide broadband connectivity services via internet and/or mobile telephony. The Airbus platform is the first connectivity solution available as line fit on Airbus aircraft and one that can be retrofitted on Airbus and other manufacturers’ aircraft.

In Latin America, TAM has been a true pioneer by being the first airline in the region to offer on-board connectivity and selecting the Airbus solution, both for its single-aisle and widebody fleet. There is no doubt that the region will see many new on-board connectivity adopters in the near future.

For more information contact:
Patrick Candelier
Manager, Cabin Services
patrick.candelier@airbus.com