Gogo’s global study reveals that 80 percent of air travelers in Europe and the Middle East are interested in using inflight Wi-Fi, in comparison to just 74 percent of U.S. air travelers.
ITASCA, IL. – Gogo Inc., a leading global aero communications service provider and the world leader in wireless in-flight entertainment, recently conducted a global study on traveler interest in in-flight connectivity and connectivity related products and services. Gogo’s study revealed that interest in these products and services is significantly higher in Europe and the Middle East despite the fact that fewer connected aircraft are operating in these regions compared to within the U.S.
Gogo’s global study reveals that 80 percent of air travelers in Europe and the Middle East are interested in using inflight Wi-Fi, in comparison to just 74 percent of U.S. air travelers. When it comes to wireless in-flight entertainment, 67 percent of air travelers in the Europe and Middle Eastern regions show a strong interest vs. 59 percent in the U.S.
According to the survey, air travelers within Europe and the Middle East are more likely to carry their own Wi-Fi enabled devices on a plane and, in most countries within the region, are more willing to pay for all in-flight services when compared to travelers in the U.S.
Other highlights from the survey include: air travelers in Europe and the Middle East are much more interested in mobile voice capabilities than U.S. air travelers; 38 percent of air travelers in Europe and the Middle East are able to expense in-flight services, representing the highest region globally; and 1 in 3 passengers say they typically use at least 2 electronic devices on a plane.
“There is a large discrepancy between the U.S. and Europe and the Middle East in terms of the number of planes connected. In the U.S., it’s becoming rare to fly without Wi-Fi. Outside the U.S. it’s very rare to board an aircraft that has Wi-Fi,” said Ash ElDifrawi, Gogo’s chief commercial Officer. “Our global research shows that, despite a dearth of connected aircraft, the appetite for these services create a significant opportunity for the airlines in these markets.”
The importance of Wi-Fi in choosing an airline continues to grow for passengers around the world. Today, more than 20 percent of passengers say they are looking for Wi-Fi when choosing an airline, which is up from 16 percent in a Gogo study conducted last year.
This data was compiled from Gogo’s global traveler research study and represents participants across seven countries and two regions. All participants had taken a round-trip flight in the past twelve months.
IATA Premium Traffic Monitor – March 2015
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
