Global Connected Aircraft Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

Global Connected Aircraft Market Outlook 

The global connected aircraft market size reached a value of USD 8.17 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.7% between 2024 and 2032 to reach a value of USD 38.23 billion.

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News and Developments in the Market 

In June 2023, Collins Aerospace openly announced the company development of a new system of an aircraft which will enable tracking and alerting features. This system will be incorporated in WebUAS, an unscrewed aircraft system digital platform. Over the forecast period, such advanced incorporation of features in aircrafts are likely to provide impetus to the global connected aircraft market. 

In May 2023, Inmarsat and Honeywell announced the launch of SwiftJet, known to be the world’s fastest L-Band inflight connectivity service aimed towards augmenting business aviation. SwiftJet will allow seamless overage across flight routes with internet speed up to 2.6 Mbps. 

In February 2023, Thales Group announced that the company will be delivering satellite stations to the Ministry of Armed Forces of France. These satellite stations will enable the armed forces to gain leverage in aggressive electromagnetic environments. In addition, the flexibility and compact design of the stations are likely to bolster the connection of military and government aircrafts such as MRTT, and AWACS, among others.

In February 2023, Aegean, a renowned airline based in Greece, announced the introduction of an inflight broadband service with excellent speed for the connected aircraft market. In addition to this, the company also partnered with Display Interactive, a provider of aircraft display solutions. The aim of this partnership was to provide passengers with inflight Wi-Fi packages.  

In October 2021, Honeywell International Inc. announced the launch of its new ‘cloud connected’ system. It is a lighter avionics system which is considered as more intuitive as compared to conventional connected systems. Cloud connected technology also reduces the number of pilots in the cockpit. Moreover, the adaptability of the system in any class of the aircraft is a major advantage of this system.  

In August 2021, Honeywell Jetwave satellite communication systems which was integrated by Lufthansa Technik was given approval by the Chinese regulators for installation on Airbus A320 aircrafts. The deal was given a green light by the Civil Aviation Authority of China. Honeywell Jetwave satellite communication systems will enable high speed Wi-Fi, reduced fuel costs of the fleet, and better passenger experience. Moreover, these type of improvements in satellite communication systems are likely to provide impetus to the global connected aircraft market.

Rising Military Expenditure, Growing Geopolitical Tensions, and Increasing Demand for Big Data Analytics to be Key Trends in the Global Connected Aircraft Market 

A connected aircraft is defined as a type of aircraft which is connected to wireless networks which expand its functions and capabilities. In a connected aircraft, the flight staff and crew have access to real-time information which is utilised to increase the efficiency of aircraft operations to bolster the comfort of the passengers. 

• The rising military expenditure across the emerging economies leading to a heightened adoption of high-tech aircrafts with efficient wireless connectivity is likely to be a crucial trend in the global connected aircraft market.

• The growing geopolitical tensions are bolstering the technological advancements in combat aircrafts and attack helicopters. This is a key trend which is likely to increase the development of superior quality connected aircrafts in the coming years.

• The rising demand for real-time and big data analytics in commercial airplanes owing to the increasing investments in automation across the aviation sector are the other major trends in the market. 

Supportive Government Policies and Importance of Security are Relevant Market Opportunities

Stringent Government Regulations Encouraging Digitalisation 

The increasing digitalisation favoured by stringent regulations of the government while ensuring safety and security of passengers amidst changing climate conditions are anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities to the global connected aircraft market. 

Surge in the Cases of Plane Hijacks and Disappearances 

The increase in cases of plane hijacks, growing risk of terrorism, and plane disappearances due to technical errors are anticipated to aid the market in the coming years. 

Rapid Development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 

The rapid development and increasing investments aimed towards increasing the production of unmanned aerial vehicles is expected to be a major opportunity in the market. 

Electronic Equipment Usage Restrictions, Risk of Cyber Attacks, and Lack of Technological Penetration to Challenge Market Growth

Prohibition of Wi-Fi and Smart Devices in Commercial Aircrafts

Wi-Fi and smart devices which enable users to facilitate video conferencing and phone calls also lead to electromagnetic interference which is typically strictly prohibited in commercial airplanes. 

Lack of Technological Penetration

The lack of technological penetration and slow digitalisation across underdeveloped countries are likely to impede the development of the connected aircraft market. In addition to this, the lack of proper aviation infrastructure and lack of airports in semi-urban areas are further restraining the market growth. 

Risk of Cyber Attacks and Hacking

The risk of the cyber attacks and hacking by terrorists can shift the focus of manufacturers towards enhancing security of connected systems instead of developing new technologies. 

Market Analysis

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Based on type, the market can be segmented into systems and solutions. Based on the frequency band, it can be segmented into ka-band, ku-band, and L-band. On the basis of application, the market can be bifurcated into commercial and military. Based on connectivity, the market can be segmented into air-to-ground connectivity, aircraft-to-aircraft connectivity, and inflight connectivity. The regional markets for the connected aircraft market can be divided into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. 

The comprehensive EMR report provides an in-depth assessment of the market based on the Porter's five forces model along with giving a SWOT analysis. The report gives a detailed analysis of the following key players in the global database management system (DBMS) market, covering their competitive landscape and latest developments like mergers, acquisitions, investments and expansion plans. 

• Honeywell International Inc.

• Gogo LLC

• Thales Group

• Inmarsat Global Limited

• Collins Aerospace

• Others

Ka-Band Leads the Market Share by Frequency Band

The increasing application of wideband systems in aircrafts is generating the demand for ka-band. This band offers significant advantages such as small size of the antenna, greater throughput compared to its counterparts, and less congestion than other bands. 

Additionally, ka-band is extremely efficient and is available at a low cost. In this regard, the increasing inclination of commercial and military aircraft manufacturers towards cost-effective options is further bolstering the demand for this band. 

The ability of ka-band to offer high-speed data services to its customers with excellent reach along with great speeds of upload and download is propelling the segment’s growth. Over the forecast period, the ku-band is also likely to witness a significant growth owing to the low susceptibility to atmosphere attenuation. 

Inflight Connectivity Occupies a Significant Market Segment

The inflight connectivity segment accounts for a significant share in the connected aircraft market. It fulfils business needs by enabling both domestic and global business travellers go online, facilitates video conferencing, and keeping in touch with colleagues. It also allows the passengers to make phone calls, login to email, surf the internet, and stream HD videos. In addition to this, inflight connectivity is extremely beneficial for teenagers and millennials who prefer streaming on OTT platforms during travelling. 

Over the forecast period, the anticipated increase in the development of inflight entertainment and information solutions, which allows the end-users to download newest entertainment content, is likely to accelerate the segment’s growth. Furthermore, the requirement for hardware for inflight connectivity is low, which is a major advantage of this segment, bolstering the global connected aircraft market. 

North America Region Holds Market Maturity while Asia Pacific Projected for Steady Growth

The market in the North America region is being driven by the strong foothold of major aircraft manufacturers in countries like the United States. The United States is one of the highest spenders on military and defence and is home to massive product innovations. In addition, the advanced digital infrastructure in the region, coupled with high-speed internet connectivity is bolstering the smoothness of incorporation of new connected aircrafts in the region. Moreover, the rising penetration of SATCOM (satellite communication) systems in the region is likely to aid the market in the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific region, on the other hand, is anticipated to register a steady growth in the global connected aircraft market owing to the thriving aviation market across the emerging economies such as India and China. The increasing number of domestic and global travellers in Japan, India, and South Korea for exposure and exploration is anticipated to spearhead the demand for connected aircrafts. The rapid digitalisation and availability of high-speed internet in the region are also likely to provide impetus to the market by bolstering the inflight connectivity in aircrafts. 

The market in Europe seems to be promising owing to the strong aviation network in the continent owing to the thriving travel and tourism industry. In addition, the strong foothold of major market players in the region is anticipated to bolster the supply chain of connectivity equipment of aircrafts, which are likely to accelerate the connected aircraft market. Furthermore, the increasing demand for French supersonic aircrafts such as Mirage and Rafael are further anticipated to bolster the market growth in the coming years. 

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Competitive Landscape of Connected Aircraft Market

Honeywell International Inc. is a renowned aerospace, automotive, construction, and industrial control product manufacturing company which is headquartered in New Jersey, United States. The defence application portfolio of the company ranges from bomb optical displays to aircrafts, among others. 

Gogo LLC is a business aviation services provider which offers wide range of digital connectivity systems for aircrafts. The company also offers world-class inflight connectivity systems. Some of the high-performance services provided by the company include Gogo Biz 4G, Next Gen, Gogo Ku, and Gogo 2Ku, among others.  

Thales Group, with a workforce of more than 81,000 employees, provides expertise in various fields including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum technology, among others. It provides technologies in defence, aerospace, transportation, and security, etc. Thales Group is headquartered in France and some of the notable subsidiaries of the company include Thales Alenia Space, SafeNet, and Gemalto, among others. 

Key Highlights of the Report