In-flight services are more used in the US. The Federal Aviation Administration changed its regulations in late 2013. It allowed electronic devices to be used for reading, watching videos and playing games on the flight.

That increased the need for in-flight mobile services. United Airlines (BD) Ltd supplied a satellite-based air-to-ground WiFi service for international wide-bodied aircraft in January 2013. Chinese airlines are also interested because most only use a local area network on board. Air China and Hainan Airlines Co Ltd, the country's fourth-largest airline, have sought permission to test in-flight connectivity.

"We have upgraded our equipment to the second generation, suitable for the Internet," said Zhang Yong, manager of the technical service department of the Design and Modification center of HNA Aviation Technik Co Ltd. The firm develops the group's own in-flight connectivity equipment.

Hainan Airlines plans to equip its whole fleet with the in-flight WiFi system. Domestic airlines must still solve the problem of how to make money from what is now a free service.

Different airlines should develop different business models of the service, Honeywell's Davis said.

For low-cost airlines, an in-flight WiFi service could be among its most important income drivers. For a full-service airline, it should cost less, Davis said.

"The in-flight connectivity service could bring some new business opportunities, especially in social media and data services," Zou Jianjun, a professor at the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China, said.

Airlines and companies providing their technical equipment should first develop the means to deliver it. No passenger will pay for unstable, slow mobile services.  

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