Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Industry

The global wireless in-flight entertainment market is projected to reach a value of USD 6,011.6 million by the year 2030. This market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.3 percent from 2023 to 2030, according to the most recent report published by Grand View Research, Inc. A key factor contributing to this growth is the increasing availability of wireless connectivity in aircraft. Alongside this, the growing trend of passengers bringing their own devices, also known as the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, is significantly influencing the market's expansion. Moreover, the rising number of airline travelers who utilize one or more connected devices during flights, along with the widespread preference for consuming entertainment while traveling—such as playing games, reading digital content, watching films, or listening to audio media—is further accelerating market growth.

The aviation industry is undergoing substantial technological advancement, which has prompted companies operating within the wireless in-flight entertainment market to introduce new and improved products and services. Supporting this trend, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that passenger-generated revenue is expected to reach USD 498 billion in 2022. This figure is more than double the USD 239 billion in revenue recorded in 2021. This significant rise in passenger revenue reflects increased travel demand, which, in turn, is stimulating the growth of the wireless in-flight entertainment market.

In addition, leading service providers in the in-flight entertainment sector are actively investing in innovations in connectivity and networking technologies. These investments are aimed at maintaining their competitive positions within the market. Many of these companies are planning to launch advanced digital portals and enhance connectivity technologies that can support greater bandwidth and faster speeds. These improvements are intended to deliver smart and seamless connectivity to passengers' personal devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Such efforts are expected to support and sustain market growth throughout the forecast period.

North America is projected to dominate the global market in terms of market share as of 2022. This is largely due to the presence of prominent wireless in-flight entertainment providers in the region, including companies such as Gogo LLC and Panasonic Avionics Corporation. Furthermore, the region has seen a rising tendency among consumers to spend more on air travel. This trend is driven by their desire for uninterrupted internet access while flying, as well as the increasing acceptance and usage of BYOD practices, which is expected to propel the regional market further.

On a related note, edge analytics is emerging as a transformative technology offering capabilities similar to those of traditional analytics platforms. The key difference lies in the location where the analytics are performed. Edge analytics processes data locally, on edge devices, which are often limited in terms of storage capacity, processing power, or internet connectivity. The wave of digital transformation across industries has been a primary catalyst for these advancements. Businesses have been seeking efficient methods to derive meaningful insights from the enormous amount of data generated daily by interconnected devices within the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. The increasing use of various connected devices—from smartwatches to smart speakers—is exponentially growing the volume of data requiring analysis. As a result, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics have become critical tools for extracting actionable insights.

North America is expected to secure a greater share of the edge analytics market, primarily due to the growing demand for predictive analytics solutions in the region. This demand is fostering the adoption of edge analytics tools, especially in sectors such as manufacturing, industrial operations, and telecommunications, where real-time data insights are crucial. The rise of the IoT has amplified interest in edge analytics solutions, as the streaming data from various connected sources contributes to a vast and complex data landscape that can be challenging for organizations to manage without the aid of localized, real-time processing.

Curious about the Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Market, Download your FREE sample copy now and get a sneak peek into the latest insights and trends.

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Market Segments Highlights:

  • The narrow-body type was the largest aircraft type segment in 2022, owing to the surge in demand for short-haul flights as well as the opening of new airports and travel routes, allowing it to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% from 2023 to 2030
  • Based on the technology, the Ka-Band segment of the wireless in-flight entertainment industry is anticipated to grow with the highest CAGR of 20.2% during the forecast period owing to its usage and support in several revenue streams
  • North America accounted for the largest market share of 29.3% in 2030, this is due to the investment and technological advancement from the key manufacturers in the region

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Market Report Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global wireless in-flight entertainment market based on aircraft type, fitment type, hardware, technology, and region:

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Aircraft Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Narrow-body
  • Wide-body
  • Regional Jet

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Fitment Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Retrofit
  • Line fit

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Hardware Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Antennas
  • WAPs
  • Modems
  • Others

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • ATG
  • Ku-Band
  • L-Band
  • Ka-Band

Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America
    • US
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
  • Latin America
  • Middle East and Africa

Key Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Company Insights

  • BAE Systems plc
  • Bluebox Aviation Systems Ltd.
  • Gogo LLC
  • Inflight Dublin, Ltd.
  • Lufthansa Systems GmbH
  • Panasonic Avionics Corporation
  • Rockwell Collins Inc.
  • SITAONAIR
  • Thales Group SA
  • Zodiac Aerospace SA

Order a free sample PDF of the Wireless In-Flight Entertainment Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.