The global commercial aircraft inflight entertainment and connectivity system market was valued at USD 7.05 billion in 2025, with strong growth ahead.
The market is forecast to climb from USD 7.60 billion in 2026 to USD 11.09 billion by 2031, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.85% over the forecast period.
Growth is being driven by airline fleet expansion, premium cabin modernization, high-speed satellite connectivity, onboard digital commerce and rising passenger expectations for continuous entertainment and internet access.
Airlines increasingly view inflight entertainment and connectivity systems as strategic passenger-experience investments rather than optional amenities, intensifying competition among suppliers.
Singapore Airlines has committed to a multiyear retrofit of 41 Airbus A350 aircraft, including KrisWorld upgrades, new seating, premium economy enhancements and revised first-class suites.
Emirates is progressing with its USD 5 billion Airbus A380 retrofit program covering 219 aircraft, which includes premium economy cabins equipped with 13.3-inch inflight entertainment displays.
Asia-Pacific represents 34.50% of global revenue passenger kilometers, with passenger traffic forecast to grow by 7.30% in 2026, making the region a critical battleground for suppliers.
AirAsia X placed a firm order for 150 Airbus A220 aircraft in May 2026 with deliveries beginning in 2028, while Vietnam Airlines finalized an order for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in February 2026.
Seat-back inflight entertainment and connectivity accounted for 52.88% of market revenue in 2025, with full-service airlines remaining the primary adopters, particularly in premium cabins.
Panasonic Avionics (6752.T) reported that its Astrova platform had secured 100 airline programs across 30 carriers by the end of 2025, with Saudia subsequently introducing the system on its Airbus A321XLR fleet.
Thales Group (HO.PA) reported that its FlytEDGE Aura system is more than 30% lighter than its previous generation, addressing weight and fuel-efficiency concerns among narrowbody operators.
Installation expenses for embedded seat-back systems can reach approximately USD 10,000 per seat before content licensing and lifecycle maintenance costs are factored in.
Wireless and passenger-device entertainment is projected to record a 10.41% CAGR through 2031, making it the fastest-growing system category across the entire market.
Vueling has deployed Viasat-powered entertainment across more than half of its fleet, while Burrana reported selections for its RISE Power platform covering more than 880 aircraft worldwide.
American Airlines introduced complimentary Wi-Fi across more than two million annual flights from January 2026, using Viasat and Intelsat systems across approximately 90% of its fleet.
North America held the largest regional share at 30.88% in 2025, supported by strong airline investment, extensive satellite infrastructure and robust demand for gate-to-gate connectivity.
Asia-Pacific is forecast to be the fastest-growing region, advancing at a 10.34% CAGR through 2031, fueled by fleet additions from carriers including AirAsia X and Air India.
Regional jets are forecast to post the fastest aircraft-type growth at a 10.92% CAGR through 2031, with Intelsat’s multi-orbit electronically steered antenna already installed on more than 100 regional jets by early 2025.
Key companies profiled in the market report include Panasonic Holdings (6752.T), Thales Group, Safran (SAF.PA), RTX Corporation (RTX), Burrana, Astronics Corporation (ATRO), Viasat and Gogo, among others.
