China appears to be pushing into the inflight internet industry alongside the United States, with an announcement this week revealing a five-year plan by the Chinese government that could see the service provided to as many as 500 million passengers.
The plan, scheduled to be completed in 2022, creates a 10 billion yuan fund, together with a trillion-yuan Inflight Internet Industrial Park. The possibilities are extensive, as Chinese already reaches 751 million users with its internet service or approximately one-fifth of the world’s total users.
Currently, around 55 airlines provide inflight internet services globally. The vast majority of these are in North American-based airlines, with United Airlines leading the way at a 100 percent Wi-Fi penetration rate. Yet those numbers are rising annually. The Swiss research company OnAir has found that 75 percent of airlines plan to invest in inflight Wi-Fi services for their passengers somewhere down the line, and 70 percent have already begun investing in appropriate training for their staff.
In China, satellites are currently being launched to give the country access to independent communications operations. They are pushing independent intellectual property rights to airlines within those countries affected by their Belt and Road Initiative (B&R). As part of this, they are also bilateral air transport agreements. Thus far, more than 60 countries have become part of the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s (CAAC) expansive push, with more than 40 agreeing to direct flights. Their international routes are growing through domestic airlines, but foreign airlines are also launching new routes into their territory under the B&R.