Why your flight tickets may get expensive in near future if you pick this option

Let's face it squarely! Flying is mind-numbingly boring and the closed spaces are claustrophobic too! And there is nothing there that can make you forget that except perhaps listening to music or watching a movie. But how long can you keep on doing that? So, an interactive pastime is the need of the hour and that has, till now, been missing. Yes, you may soon get relief. In effect, you will get in-flight WiFi! Soon you will be able to surf the web and talk to folks down on earth as you fly overhead, but the thing is - it may set you back quite a bit. Chances are, as a consequence, your flight ticket is set to get pricier. 
 
Ever since the Telecom Commission has given approval to WiFi services in domestic flights, several airlines, including major domestic flight firms, are taking interest in it and are looking to explore this as an opportunity to increase their non-aero revenues, said a LiveMint report. 
 
According to the report, department of telecommunications is now in the process of creating a separate category of licensees called in-flight connectivity provider who will provide internet as well as voice services within Indian territorial airspace in both domestic and international flights. The report said that DoT will soon start framing licence terms for these providers besides inviting applications over the next two-three months.
 
Major domestic airlines have taken keen interest in providing such services, and one of them is Vistara, whose spokesperson told LiveMint, “We are studying the recommendations in detail, and in due course, we will determine the economics of offering the service on domestic and/or international routes.” 
 
On introduction of WiFi services, an Air India official reportedly said the national carrier would definitely consider it once there is a clarity around its business model. SpiceJet’s chairman Ajay Singh has already stated that his airline would be one of the first to introduce inflight connectivity.
 
Although Jet Airways, IndiGo, GoAir and AirAsia India are yet to divulge their plans, industry experts reportedly said that bundling inflight WiFi along with other services could be a difficult proposition for airlines to sell to economy passengers.
 
“It would be difficult to bundle for economy class initially, given the high capex involved,” Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at KPMG, told LiveMint, and added that passengers may not mind paying up to Rs 200-300 for a two-hour flight.
 
Notably, for installing WiFi in an aircraft, including the aftermarket kit, maintenance, testing, crew training and certification, may cost airlines Rs 22 crore per aircraft, according to an analysis on WiFi installations on Indian carriers by aviation consultancy Martin Consulting Llc. 

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An airplane has to be grounded for as many as 13 days to equip itself with on-board WiFi facility, the Mint report added.