Internet that flies

The always-connected passenger is becoming a reality

As of December, US airline jetBlue is offering satellite broadband in the sky that’s faster than you’ll find in most Australian homes. With real-world speeds over 25 mbps (megabits per second), the ViaSat Ka-band satellite-based service is setting a new bar for inflight connectivity providers – an important consideration given that nearly half of flights in the United States now have inflight Wi-Fi. Worldwide, over 3,000 aircraft are equipped with inflight connectivity, and that number is due to rise by approximately 1,000 per year through 2015.

Inflight connectivity benefits for passengers are clear, even if sometimes more frivolous than functional. Yet airlines too benefit as the ‘Internet of Things’ spreads to aircraft systems, network planning and crew operations. Aircraft utilisation will improve as systems communicate their status to maintenance at the destination airport: tyre pressure needs attention; an item inoperative on the minimum equipment list is in stock and can be replaced; a reservoir needs to be topped up. Passengers with tight connections can be easily identified in the air and primed for fast disembarkation with the information they need to get to their connecting flight in time. Crew information can be disseminated quickly and in real time. Duty-free purchases can verify credit card validity and significantly reduce loss. And in irregular operations, passenger communications to be delivered by the cabin crew do not have to go through the flightdeck.