Did you know that Valour Consultancy produces a tracker database on the in-flight connectivity (IFC) and in-flight entertainment (IFE) markets? We’ve done so pretty much since our formation back in 2012 and today it underpins the work we and our clients do in these areas, most notably our flagship annual reports.
Previously, both data sets were kept separate but in Q1 2024, our two tracker databases were merged into one single comprehensive deliverable, recognising the growing link between IFE and IFC.
Our IFEC tracker is updated every quarter, and subscribers are provided with flexible deliverables that, amongst other things, capture the installed base of equipped aircraft, as well as details of committed order backlogs. Data is split by key segments such as service provider, airline, geographic region and product type. Thanks to our collaboration with ch-aviation, we are also able to offer this information down to the aircraft tail level.
With Q4 2024 data coming soon, the tracker team has put together a snapshot of some key findings from the Q3 2024 update:
In-Flight Entertainment
- At the end of September 2024, there were 16,678 commercial aircraft, globally, fitted with some form of IFE.
- Wireless IFE (W-IFE) continues to be the most common form of IFE, with over 9,700 aircraft fitted with an associated system.
- North America is the largest market for W-IFE, with 30 airlines offering W-IFE.
- Approximately 69% of aircraft offering W-IFE also offer in-flight connectivity (IFC). American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines make up much of the total, mainly Regional Jets & Wide-body aircraft. Airlines are offering this combination in order to stay competitive and so enhancing the passengers experience enabling them a seamless entertainment experience.
- Seatback IFE continues to remain very relevant as a product offering. In Q3 2024, the global installed base increased steadily by 153 aircraft.
- The seatback market continues to be dominated by Panasonic Avionics, Thales and Safran, which, together account for 97% of all active installations.
- The overhead IFE system installed base continues to decline (falling by 88 aircraft in Q3 2024) with very few new installations outside of China.
- The market for overhead IFE systems is dominated by Panasonic Avionics and Burrana. At the end of Q3 2024 the two firms accounted for 88% of all active aircraft equipped with overhead IFE system.
In-Flight Connectivity
- At the end of Q3 2024, the installed base of aircraft with an active IFC system installed totalled almost 11,200 connected aircraft globally, shared amongst 148 airlines.
- There were 296 gross installs carried out in Q3 2024; 41% of these were line fitments.
- Viasat was the highest contributor to line-fit installs (85).
- Starlink had installed and activated its service across the JSX fleet and was advancing its rollout across Hawaiian Airlines. At the end of Q3 2024, Starlink had 95 aircraft using its service.
- Starlink’s United Airlines deal was a huge win, both for the operator and the industry as a whole. More information on what this will mean for the future of the IFC market will be published in our dedicated Starlink Aviation Deep Dive report, due to publish in Q1 2025.
- Viasat currently has the largest share of total connected aircraft with 36% of the commercial global fleet.
- Over 6,300 narrow-body aircraft offer an active IFC service and is expected to remain the focal point of IFC service providers, given the number of unconnected narrow-bodies, globally.
- Ka-band installations continued to show substantial growth in Q3 2024, with 114 installations in total. In the coming months, Ku-band installs are expected to bounce back strongly thanks to Starlink activations on a number of carriers, notably Qatar, United and Air France.
If you would like more information about our IFEC Tracker, want to see a sample of the data, or would like to arrange a free demonstration, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.