In-Flight Connectivity Market | Strategic Assessment and Competitive Analysis

Q: What would be the growth of the market in the coming five years

The in flight connectivity market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 185 by 2027 driven by the rapidly increasing passenger demand for internet connectivity during flights

Q: Who are the key players in the market

Viasat Inmarsat Gogo Intelsat Global Eagle Entertainment SITAONAIR and Panasonic Aviation are the leading players in the IFC market

Q: Which region is estimated to be dominant in the market in the coming years

North America is estimated to remain dominant in the in flight connectivity market in the foreseen future in the wake of its largest connected fleet size in the USA

Q: Which region is estimated to grow at the fastest pace in the market in the coming years

Asia Pacific is estimated to remain the fastest growing market for in flight connectivity in the foreseeable future Currently China has more than a third more connected aircraft than in 2020 despite the downfall due to COVID 19 At the end of 2021 the Chinese fleet had 842 connected aircraft and it is expected to grow even more shortly

Q: Which product is estimated to be dominant in the market in the coming years

Wi Fi network is estimated to be dominant in the market in the coming years as airlines increasingly prefer to provide wi fi connectivity during flights at a low or no cost in order to improve the onboard passenger cabin experience

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Report Summary

Table of contents

Market Highlights

In-flight connectivity is an underlying technology that offers connectivity through the air to ground or through L-, Ku- or Ka-band satellites, to the airlines by sending and receiving signals via antennas and supportive equipment which enable the passenger to use the internet, call or send e-mails during a flight hour. More than 120 commercial airlines provide IFC to passengers worldwide in order to improve the passenger travel experience. In 2021, the total number of commercial aircraft connected to IFC services increased by 10% compared to 2020, totaling 9,900 aircraft.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an enormous decline in the aviation industry across regions, a sudden fall in retrofitting of aircraft, and an unexpected rise in the retirement rate. The grave impact of the pandemic was registered across the supply chain including the IFC service providers.

In-flight connectivity, a sizeable market, could not escape from such trends and witnessed a colossal decline (-32%+ in 2020) amid the pandemic, relatively lower than that of the decline in the overall aircraft industry. The market is expected to regain its pre-pandemic level by 2023. Furthermore, an expected ramp-up in the production rates of several renowned aircraft programs, such as A320, A350XWB, and B737Max; upcoming new aircraft programs such as C919 and Irkut MC-21; and the gradual recovery of the MRO market are likely to boost the demand for IFC in the coming years. Overall, the in-flight connectivity market is likely to rebound at a promising CAGR of 18.5% in the long run to reach US$2.5 Billion in 2027.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions:

In 2021, Viasat acquired Inmarsat to strengthen its position in the market.
In 2020, Intelsat acquired Gogo’s commercial aviation segment, to become the world’s leading provider of commercial in-flight broadband and entertainment services.

Market Segments' Analysis

Segmentations	List of Sub-Segments	Dominant and Fastest-Growing Segments
Aircraft Type	Narrow-Body Aircraft, Wide-Body Aircraft, Regional Jets, and Business Jets.	Wide-Body Aircraft remain the biggest demand generator of IFC in the foreseeable future.
Connectivity Type	ATG, L-Band, Ku-Band, Ka-Band, and Hybrid Band.	Ku-Band is the dominant connectivity type. Ka-Band is witnessing the highest growth.
Hardware Type	Antenna Systems, Modem, Servers, and Wireless Access Points (WAPs).	Antenna Systems are the dominant hardware type. Modem is registering the highest growth.
Network Type	Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Hybrid Networks.	Wi-Fi remains dominant as well as the fastest-growing network type.
Regional Analysis	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW.	North America holds irrefutable dominance. Asia-Pacific is registering exceptional growth.

Based on the aircraft type, the in-flight connectivity market is segmented into narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, regional jets, and business jets. With the highest share, wide-body aircraft is expected to remain the largest as well as the fastest-growing aircraft type segment in the market during the forecast period, owing to an expected recovery in RPKs and the growing demand for improved in-flight passenger cabin experience. Also, IFC remains the most desired in long-haul flights.

Based on the connectivity type, the market is segmented into ATG, L-band, Ku-band, Ka-band, and hybrid band. ATG connectivity is expected to remain the preferred choice for business jets, whereas Ku-band for commercial aircraft during the forecast period. ATG is frequently used by business jet travelers which provide ground-level connectivity from cellular towers for short-haul business travel, whereas satellite connectivity enables the aircraft to remain connected overseas. Ku-band is the extensively used band in satellite connectivity with frequency ranges from 11-14 GHz, which ensures the low latency and capacity required to meet the bandwidth demands of in-flight passengers.

Based on the hardware type, the market is segmented into antenna systems, modems, servers, and wireless access points (WAPs). Antenna systems are expected to remain the dominant hardware type in the IFC market during the forecast period. They play a very crucial role in maintaining connectivity at 35,000 feet and transferring signals either from ground level to aircraft via ATG or satellite communication.

Based on the network type, the market is segmented into cellular, Wi-Fi, and hybrid network. Wi-Fi network type is expected to contribute the highest share in the market during the forecast period. In-flight wi-fi has become a necessity for airlines to provide the best passenger experience for calling, watching online videos, accessing office emails, and surfing social media and commercial sites.

In terms of regions, North America is expected to remain the largest market for in-flight connectivity during the forecast period. North America has been an active region for a long time in terms of in-flight connectivity with more than 80% IFC deployed in all aircraft flying out in the region. Also, the region has the six largest connected fleets globally which are connected by the world’s largest connectivity providers such as ViaSat, Gogo, and Intelsat from both ATG and Satcom.

Asia-Pacific is likely to grow at the fastest pace over the next five years, driven by an expected rebound in aircraft deliveries, increasing passenger air travel and RPKs in emerging economies such as India and China; introduction of new aircraft programs such as C919, and the expected return of B737Max in China. With a total of 842 connected aircraft in the Chinese fleet, the country is ready to set a new height in terms of IFC. In 2021, Viasat announced to offer of its Ka-band service to China Satcom’s ChinaSat-16 satellite to fulfill the requirements for domestic and international airlines entering Chinese airspace.

Key Players

The IFC market is consolidated with the presence of several big players around the globe. Most of the major players have pre-defined contracts with top airline providers and with a few OEMs. The connectivity service is majorly driven by retrofit demand with numerous airlines refurbishing their fleets with IFC connections to enhance the passenger cabin experience. The following are the key players in the in-flight connectivity market. Most of the major players are providing connectivity either through ATG or satellite or both.

Gogo Inc.
Intelsat S.A.
Viasat Inc.
Inmarsat Global Ltd.
Global Eagle Entertainment Inc.

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s in-flight connectivity market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate the growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
Market trend and forecast analysis.
Market segment trend and forecast.
Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Product portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
Emerging trends.
Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
Key success factors.

The in-flight connectivity market is segmented into the following categories.

In-Flight Connectivity Market, by Aircraft Type

Narrow-Body Aircraft (Trend and Forecast)
Wide-Body Aircraft (Trend and Forecast)
Regional Jets (Trend and Forecast)
Business Jets (Trend and Forecast)

In-Flight Connectivity Market, by Connectivity Type

ATG (Trend and Forecast)
L-Band (Trend and Forecast)
Ku-Band (Trend and Forecast)
Ka-Band (Trend and Forecast)
Hybrid Band (Trend and Forecast)

In-Flight Connectivity Market, by Hardware Type

Antenna Systems (Trend and Forecast)
Modem (Trend and Forecast)
Servers (Trend and Forecast)
Wireless Access Points (WAPs) (Trend and Forecast)
Others (Trend and Forecast)

In-Flight Connectivity Market, by Network Type

Cellular (Trend and Forecast)
Wi-Fi (Trend and Forecast)
Hybrid Network (Trend and Forecast)

In-Flight Connectivity Market, by Region

North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and the Rest of Europe)
Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)

Report Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

Custom Research: Stratview research offers custom research services across sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry to sales@stratviewresearch.com

A Bird's Eye View of the Market

What would be the growth of the market in the coming five years?

The in-flight connectivity market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 18.5% by 2027, driven by the rapidly increasing passenger demand for internet connectivity during flights.

Who are the key players in the market?

Viasat, Inmarsat, Gogo, Intelsat, Global Eagle Entertainment, SITAONAIR, and Panasonic Aviation are the leading players in the IFC market.

Which region is estimated to be dominant in the market in the coming years?

North America is estimated to remain dominant in the in-flight connectivity market in the foreseen future in the wake of its largest connected fleet size in the USA.

Which region is estimated to grow at the fastest pace in the market in the coming years?

Asia-Pacific is estimated to remain the fastest-growing market for in-flight connectivity in the foreseeable future. Currently, China has more than a third more connected aircraft than in 2020, despite the downfall due to COVID-19. At the end of 2021, the Chinese fleet had 842 connected aircraft, and it is expected to grow even more shortly.

Which product is estimated to be dominant in the market in the coming years?

Wi-Fi network is estimated to be dominant in the market in the coming years as airlines increasingly prefer to provide wi-fi connectivity during flights at a low or no cost in order to improve the onboard passenger cabin experience.

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In Flight Connectivity Market Report