China’s in-flight connectivity (IFC) market is set for rapid expansion, with more than 2,000 additional IFC installations on China-based commercial aircraft forecast by 2035, according to Valour Consultancy’s report In-Flight Connectivity: China and India Deep Dive – 2026. The study estimates that the number of connected commercial aircraft in China will exceed 2,300 by 2035, up from just over 400 today, implying a 475 percent increase in IFC-equipped aircraft.
Valour Consultancy links the growth to accelerating adoption on narrowbody fleets and a broader push by Chinese authorities to expand in-flight Wi-Fi for domestic passengers. Previous industry analyses note that, despite a fleet of roughly 3,700 active commercial aircraft operated by Chinese carriers, IFC penetration has remained in the single digits in recent years.
The report suggests that rising availability of high-throughput satellite capacity over China, certified onboard hardware, and evolving air-to-ground network options are expected to drive installations over the coming decade. While IFC take-up has lagged behind North American and European markets, Valour Consultancy’s forecast indicates that connectivity will become a standard feature on a substantial share of China’s commercial fleet by the mid-2030s.