NEW DELHI: Foreign airlines could be the immediate beneficiaries of the government’s recent nod to in-flight voice and data connectivity as the domestic players were not yet equipped for internet services, according to an aviation consultancy firm.
On the pricing issue, a global airline IT solution major feels the price point for domestic flights in India offering voice and data services “will need to be appropriate”.
Aviation consultancy firm Centre for Asia Pacific (CAPA) said foreign carriers will be the first to offer onboard connectivity in Indian airspace as domestic carriers were not yet equipped for WiFi.
In a statement, the CAPA suggested that Indian carriers were expected to implement WiFi on international services in due course, particularly long haul flights.
On the other hand, SITA ONAIR, which has been part of public consultations conducted by TRAI and offers in-flight connectivity to over 30 major airlines globally, told PTI that airlines today see connectivity as an essential element and over 91 per cent of the airlines worldwide are investing on in-flight wireless services.
According to the CAPA, airlines in India were yet to establish a viable business case for offering WiFi on domestic services given the expenditure involved and passenger propensity to pay on short sectors within India.
But the Telecom Commission’s approval for providing voice and data connectivity has created a buzz in the aviation sector especially among the air passengers planning a domestic or flying abroad, analysts said. PTI
