Moment, a France-based company working in the in-flight entertainment and connectivity sector, has published details of its research into the in-flight connectivity (IFC) market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
The APAC region is one of the world’s fastest-maturing IFC markets, with a high level of adoption among legacy airline carriers, growing availability of free-to-access IFC models for end customers, and increasing use of connectivity as a tool for customer loyalty and yield management.
According to Moment’s Inflight Connectivity Report, based on feedback from a global panel of 106 air carriers – including 30 APAC airlines – 95% of full-service and long-haul fleets in APAC are now fully or partially equipped with onboard wi-fi systems, which is well above the global average of 89% adoption. This figure positions APAC as the region with the highest penetration of IFC systems among legacy airlines.
In contrast, budget carriers still lag far behind, with 33% connected, leaving a large untapped market in the short- and medium-haul sector.
APAC outpaces global average in free inflight wi-fi
The ‘freemium’ model, with some basic IFC services available to use at no charge to passengers, and premium services available for a fee, remains the leading model worldwide. However, APAC carriers are showing a stronger shift toward free connectivity access.
In the region, 19% of legacy airlines now provide fully free wi-fi, compared with 13% globally. Additionally, 35% of connected APAC airlines offer complimentary messaging, while the global average is 31%, typically pairing free basic access with paid browsing or streaming tiers.
At the same time, carriers across Asia-Pacific are increasingly deploying ‘loyalty gated’ strategies, granting full access to IFC services to premium cabin passengers and frequent-flyer members. As a result, IFC in APAC is evolving beyond a passenger amenity into a useful tool for customer acquisition, engagement and retention.
Hybrid pricing models dominate in APAC
Moment’s report finds that airlines across the APAC region are increasingly blending duration-based, usage-based and data-based pricing strategies to build flexible commercial models tailored to diverse passenger profiles. Average pricing reflects this structured approach, with ‘surf & stream’ packages typically ranging from $10–12 per hour and $22–25 for a full flight.
Most carriers combine duration and usage-based options, enabling them to monetise connectivity while preserving accessible entry points, such as a tier with low-cost messaging. Moment notes that this layered pricing architecture illustrates a maturing ecosystem in which airlines strategically balance passenger satisfaction, ancillary revenue generation, and loyalty programme integration to maximise engagement and long-term value.
“The Asia-Pacific market is one of the most advanced connectivity ecosystems globally, with airlines demonstrating different stages of digital maturity. Legacy carriers are setting a very high benchmark, with connectivity increasingly embedded into loyalty ecosystems and premium value propositions, whereas regional airlines are leveraging connectivity to strengthen their brand promise and commercial strategy,” stated Tanguy Morel, CEO & co-founder of Moment.
The full report can be accessed via Moment.
