CABIN ELECTRONICS FOR PASSENGER COMFORT, PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY
Inmarsat’s passenger Experience Survey, (2022) reveal how air passengers feel about inflight connectivity and why it is a sound business case to invest in a robust, cutting-edge Inflight Connectivity (IFC) and Inflight Entertainment (IFE) systems. Having one, has become a brand differentiator where customers choose to fly with an airline, when assured of non-stop connectivity, once airborne and throughout the duration of their journey.
Passengers in flight expect to download and view content on their personal devices. Thus, the importance of a consistently highspeed Wi-Fi, enabling inflight activities and entertainment, plays a significant part in enhancing the overall in- flight experience. 97% of passengers bring their own phone, tablet, or laptop onboard, often even multiple devices.
The below survey data stands testimony to what airline customers prefer in terms of inflight connectivity:
- 77% of respondents say Wi-Fi is important during their flight, and this figure has significantly increased from the 2018 survey result of 55%
- 79% of passengers connected to inflight Wi-Fi when available – be they paid, freemium services or through advertising channels
- 82% said they are more likely to travel with an airline again, if high quality Wi-Fi is available
- 92% when it comes to business travellers growing impact that reliable connectivity can have on an airline’s reputation and repeat business
- 52% are willing to watch adverts to access free Wi-Fi – this is encouraging, as this could help fund the investment in quality connectivity
- 52% would want charging ports to make the most of inflight Wi-Fi, where 92% of passengers are using their mobile devices from, they time they check-in for a flight
Air travellers are willing to pay a fair price for their flight bookings which include a reliable, high- speed connection – akin to what they are used to in their daily lives. This remains a key factor in their choice of a carrier. A well-equipped cabin, can only enhance the ‘feel good’ factor that customers seek. Cabin electronics include cabin management and lighting systems as well.
Ambient Lighting Systems on Board
Some of the state-of-the-art lighting systems onboard Ultra-Long-Range business jets can synchronise with a traveller’s circadian rhythm that helps overcome jet lag, post-journey. There is more to inflight connectivity than just the ability to access the internet, send emails and download one’s favourite movies and TV shows, gaming options and tapping your feet to every genre of music you love.
Ancillary Revenue Generation for Airlines
For an airline company, this opens a whole new world of ancillary revenue possibilities – just by pandering to their customers’ needs.
Let us not forget that inflight connectivity is the most preferred amenity for today’s travellers especially on long haul flights. Therefore, making an aircraft wi-fi enabled is seen as an investment. On offer are high-speed broadband capabilities, streaming content for free or for a price, and more importantly power outlets for juicing up laptops and mobiles, all of which are now essentials in our connected world.
Discoveries for Customer Delight
Bluetooth Connectivity Onboard – On certain United Airlines’ flights, one can now use wireless headphones to connect to the seatback entertainment system via Bluetooth, using their own headphones/ Air Pods, and the like.
High-Speed Inflight Connectivity – Owned and operated by Inmarsat, the Ka-Band satellite communication system provides high bandwidth and reliable connectivity. Aircraft operators and business jet owners can customise offerings better and have emails, Skype calls and audio/video streaming on tap. And they have it on multiple devices with the Ka-Band in the sky.
Whiling away hours on (mainly) long-haul flights, enjoying the magic of the movies, TV shows, and shorts, reading up on the latest business mantras or relaxing by listening to music of one’s choice, with the best-in-class noise-cancellation headphones, are staple offers. Young travellers too are kept engaged with child-centric videos and games.
In Seat messaging, allow passengers to send personal messages to other passengers onboard the same aircraft but seated elsewhere.
Some airlines provide PEDs (Personal Electronic Devices) for downloading content or audio files, or the usual in-seat screens. However, preference is for content made available on a passenger’s handheld device(s). Cabin crew are given sufficient training to assist passengers with hand-held PEDs or in-seat devices. Seat pockets contain literature with easy-to-follow instructions. That aside, inflight magazines contain dedicated pages in their entertainment section for movies, shorts, and music options.
INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY FOR OPERATIONS & SAFETY
Vital Data Management and Cyber Security
IFC includes analytics of flight crew and passenger data, availability of bandwidth vis-a-vis the number of passengers in a cabin. Going granular, IFC is capable of tracking connected devices on board in real-time, data usage by the devices, identification of devices in use, and similar. This helps monitor cost basis usage. With IFC on board, passengers can share content on social media.
Data protection from the point data flows onto and off an aircraft makes the system cyber secure. Operators can access flight planning data which is vital for functioning efficiently and safely.
IFC and Predictive Maintenance
Enhanced communication and bandwidth enable real-time diagnostics of operations as also predictive maintenance. The latter allow in a ‘connected aircraft, mechanical problems to be detected at once or even predicted before a fault happens and can be mitigated immediately. This is very useful for crash investigations.
The digitalisation of aviation brings savings estimated to run into the billions, reduces fuel burn, minimising risk and lowering unscheduled maintenance. Predictive maintenance has ushered in an era of safe, cost-effective operations, above all more efficient and sustainable.
TECHNOLOGY
By means of satellite technology, inflight Wi-Fi users can access internet not just over land but across the seas.
Advanced ground-based and satellite technology, and any modern-day aircraft cabin connectivity systems, have ensured that air travellers remain in touch with their world – both professional and personal– all through their journey. In ground-based systems, the bandwidth is supplied from ground-based towers that communicate with directional antennas mounted on the bottom of the aircraft. Satellite systems allow streaming live content with an aircraft fitted with multiple air-to-ground (ATG) receivers that result in faster connections.
Business Travellers and Charter service customers enjoy a great deal of customisation with thelatest in technology, with constant access to all their contacts and database, thus, enhancing their work efficiency.
With Inflight wi-fi services transforming passenger experience, aviation is set to revolutionise the way travellers think and conduct business on the go.
MAKING FREE WI-FI on board COST EFFECTIVE for airlines
Selling advertising space, to advertisers, targeting air travellers while they consume IFE content, is a revenue earning source for an airline. While some carriers have partnered with content providers to deliver Wi-Fi, others have clubbed free Wi-Fi with their frequent flyer programmes. Passengers on their find such value adds, attractive in their engagement with the airline.
However, each of these options could help airlines offset the cost of providing free Wi-Fi, and importantly, make each individual passenger more valuable to the business.
Over the past decade, with a new crop of airline passengers whose lives have been shaped with fast evolving digitalisation, the world’s leading airlines have recognised that inflight connectivity is fundamental to enhancing their passenger experience.
The importance of High-Speed, Consistent Inflight Wi-Fi
Reliable high-speed connectivity will remain critical to the new relationship that airlines are redefining with their passengers and at the same time tap into a lucrative market.
With a demand for constant connectivity, inflight Wi-Fi services are not limited to just browsing the web and messaging, but streaming video and audio, updating social media, gaming, and other data- heavy applications. Therefore, sufficient capacity must be considered to enable best-in-class passenger experience
Some smart and innovative airlines are already doing this and earning greater loyalty, personalisation, which is resulting in revenue.
SERVICES
GX Aviation –Award winning inflight broadband solution with seamless high-speed global coverage provided through a single Wi-Fi service provider.
European Aviation Network – Award-winning inflight broadband solution, offering the best of speed, capacity, and most comprehensive coverage over Europe.
OneFi- A passenger experience platform brings a host of inflight services together within a single portal interface.
Airlines need to choose an inflight connectivity service that is designed for mobility and optimised for aviation. Afterall, a reliable high-speed service is a significant brand differentiator.
As an inflight internet provider, Inmarsat enables airlines to offer streaming, browsing, gaming and more that replicates the passenger experience on the ground.
CONCLUSION
Connectivity an Opportunity for a faster profitable R0I – The relationship between airlines and their passengers is key to maximising revenue and market share. Airlines that prioritise high quality connectivity will have a competitive advantage and may even achieve profitable recovery faster.Besides, a connected aircraft, a connected operational network, will make aviation safer, cheaper, more efficient, and ultimately more sustainable.
Insarmat.com
Popsci.com
