Inmarsat published the fourth annual global Inflight Connectivity Survey

World’s largest survey of airline passengers also finds:

• 90% of travellers flying with children would use Wi-Fi to keep them entertained
• More than half of passengers would swap an inflight G&T for access to Wi-Fi
• Half of nervous flyers would use Wi-Fi to remain in contact with family and friends

LONDON, 13-Aug-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Who said romance is dead? As the growing popularity of online dating continues to reach dizzying heights, airline passengers want to put inflight Wi-Fi to good use by looking for love even when in the skies. This is just one of the findings of the fourth annual global Inflight Connectivity Survey, published today by Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, in association with market research company Populus[1].

It’s never been truer to say that we are addicted to being online. More than three quarters of respondents (78%) would even go so far as to say that Wi-Fi is fundamental to daily life. Whether it’s messaging on Whatsapp, scrolling through social media or swiping on dating apps, we just can’t bear to be disconnected.

With millennials spending an average of 10 hours a week on dating apps alone[2], and more than a third of passengers (34%) admitting that they have been attracted to another passenger on their flight, it’s unsurprising that more than half (57%) of those respondents wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to find ‘the one’ on the plane.

In the online dating world, true love sadly doesn’t always last forever. With apps such as Bumble forcing you to make your move within the first 24 hours, a long-haul flight to Australia could mean ‘the one’ slips through your fingers. Whether it’s sparking a conversation with the person you spied in seat 12B, or setting up a first date for when you land, inflight connectivity is set to mend broken hearts by enabling more matches and connections than ever before.

However, it’s not just singletons driving demand for inflight Wi-Fi; this year’s survey also identified a number of other groups particularly keen to remain connected in the air.

Half (51%) of nervous flyers would like to be able to remain in contact with family and friends on the ground, and 90% of travellers flying with children would use Wi-Fi if it was available on their next flight. For business travellers, inflight Wi-Fi could lead to more productive work trips, as 87% said they would use Wi-Fi on the plane to be more productive.

Now in its fourth year, Inmarsat’s annual Inflight Connectivity Survey has consistently shown that passenger demand for inflight connectivity is high and continuing to grow. The majority of today’s airline passengers are so keen to get online that they will sacrifice other inflight amenities for internet access. In 2016 more than half of passengers said they (54%) would choose Wi-Fi over an inflight meal. Today, passengers are adding alcohol to the list of inflight amenities they would sacrifice to get online, with more than half (53%) suggesting they are even prepared to give up their inflight alcoholic drink in exchange for access to the service.

Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “Wi-Fi is an essential part of daily life on the ground, and airline passengers see no reason why their time on a flight should be restricted or spent any differently. Whether it’s used for sending that important work email, entertaining the children or even connecting with fellow passengers, staying online is becoming a crucial part of the inflight experience for today’s airline passengers.”

Inmarsat is transforming the global aviation industry by bringing complete connectivity to every aircraft and flight path in the world. It is the first and only provider with a complete High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) network spanning the world. Inmarsat is also the only aviation broadband provider capable of connecting the complete aircraft from cabin to cockpit. Passengers can browse the internet, stream videos, check social media and more during flights, with an on-board connectivity experience on par with mobile broadband services available on the ground. Inmarsat’s high-speed, secure connectivity solutions for the flight deck combine cutting-edge satellite technology with secure IP broadband connectivity. Inmarsat is able to deliver incomparable protected data capacity to the cockpit, resulting in vastly improved operational efficiency and enhanced safety.

[1] The fourth annual Inflight Connectivity Survey reflects the responses of more than 9,300 passengers from 32 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and North and Latin America, and is the largest global passenger survey of its kind.

[2] https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/dating-apps-millenials-10-hours-per-week-tinder-bumble-romance-love-a8174006.html

For further information

About Populus & methodology:

Populus interviewed 9,341 adults online between 18th April to 14th May 2018 in each of the following regions: Europe, NAM, LATAM, IMEA and APAC. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more information go to www.populus.co.uk.

About Inmarsat

Inmarsat is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organisations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat operates around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ISAT.L).

The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal.

SOURCE: Inmarsat plc.