Mumbai/New Delhi: Full-service carriers were encouraged by the government’s decision to allow in-flight internet access, while low-cost carriers remained non-committal, citing pricing concerns.
While SpiceJet quoted expenses involved in upgrading the aircraft for Wi-Fi service, a senior IndiGo executive was sceptical about the viability of on-board Wi-Fi hotspots in domestic flights, given most routes are short haul. “If you ask me, I don’t think it will be sensible for an airline to invest in such facilities on routes of two-and-a-half hour duration,” said the IndiGo executive.
“In a budget airline environment, how this extra cost will affect ticket price is an aspect that needs to be looked into. This is a good initiative by the government but from the industry’s point of view, it is distant reality,” a SpiceJet spokesperson added.
A GoAir spokesperson said the airline would take a call on Wi-Fi after an evaluation.
Amongst domestic airlines, full-service carriers Vistara and Jet Airways made the first move for providing wireless streaming of entertainment content in aircraft. In February, Jet announced it would offer wireless streaming of movies and television shows on personal devices such as phones or tablets from the second quarter of this year. The service will be available on all its Boeing 737s. The airline said it would upgrade the streaming service to full broadband satellite connectivity upon receiving regulatory approvals.
To Read the News in Full 26/08/16 Aneesh Phadnis & Arindam Majumder/Business Standard
While SpiceJet quoted expenses involved in upgrading the aircraft for Wi-Fi service, a senior IndiGo executive was sceptical about the viability of on-board Wi-Fi hotspots in domestic flights, given most routes are short haul. “If you ask me, I don’t think it will be sensible for an airline to invest in such facilities on routes of two-and-a-half hour duration,” said the IndiGo executive.
“In a budget airline environment, how this extra cost will affect ticket price is an aspect that needs to be looked into. This is a good initiative by the government but from the industry’s point of view, it is distant reality,” a SpiceJet spokesperson added.
A GoAir spokesperson said the airline would take a call on Wi-Fi after an evaluation.
Amongst domestic airlines, full-service carriers Vistara and Jet Airways made the first move for providing wireless streaming of entertainment content in aircraft. In February, Jet announced it would offer wireless streaming of movies and television shows on personal devices such as phones or tablets from the second quarter of this year. The service will be available on all its Boeing 737s. The airline said it would upgrade the streaming service to full broadband satellite connectivity upon receiving regulatory approvals.
To Read the News in Full 26/08/16 Aneesh Phadnis & Arindam Majumder/Business Standard
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