"Air-to-Air Power-On" Race: China's Aviation Industry Enters the Era of Air-to-Air Internet Access

The first portable electronic device (PED) open flight in the history of China's civil aviation took off smoothly on the evening of the 17th!

On January 17, the reporter learned from Hainan Airlines that at 21:36 on the evening of the 17th, Hainan Airlines President Sun Jianfeng flew the "first PED flight in the history of Chinese civil aviation" - HU7781, from Haikou to Beijing, and was expected to land at 00:40 the next day.

Earlier on the 17th, China Eastern Airlines also announced that starting from January 18, China Eastern Airlines passengers can use small PEDs with flight mode throughout the flight.

The first PED-enabled flight in the history of China's civil aviation

"If the enemy does not move, I will not move. If the enemy moves, I will move first." The first flight opened by PED has epoch-making significance in the history of Chinese civil aviation and has become a hot spot for airlines.

Shortly after China Eastern Airlines announced the opening of PEDs on board, Hainan Airlines posted a Weibo on the evening of January 17, stating that it has opened up work on PED devices. From January 18, passengers on Hainan Airlines flights can use PEDs on board, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers and other portable electronic devices.

Hainan Airlines is clearly ready to compete with China Eastern Airlines. According to the information obtained by the reporter of Daily Economic News from Hainan Airlines, on the evening of January 17, Hainan Airlines President Sun Jianfeng planned to fly the first commercial flight in the history of China's civil aviation after the PED was opened.

It is reported that all 17 passenger aircraft in Hainan Airlines' Boeing 787-9 fleet have achieved in-flight Internet access, and the flight on the evening of the 17th was one of them. Flight HU7781 from Haikou to Beijing took off at 21:36 and was expected to land at 00:40 the next day.

After the ban on PED use is lifted, passengers will be able to chat socially, send and receive emails, or browse news through the in-flight network.

Airplane mode required

The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on September 18, 2017 that the fifth revision of the "Large Aircraft Public Air Transport Carrier Operation Qualification Certification Rules" (CCAR-121) had been approved by the Ministry of Transport, relaxing the management regulations on PEDs on board and allowing airlines to evaluate the impact of PEDs and formulate corresponding management policies.

On January 16, 2018, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the "Guidelines for the Evaluation of the Use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) on Board" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines"), stating that the conditions for allowing the use of PEDs on board aircraft are basically mature.

As soon as the policy was relaxed, on January 17, China Eastern Airlines immediately announced that it had formulated relevant "implementation rules".

It is reported that starting from January 18, China Eastern Airlines passengers can use mobile phones with flight mode and small PED devices such as e-books, video/audio players, electronic game consoles within the specified size throughout the flight.

It is worth noting that China Eastern Airlines stipulates that PEDs must turn on the flight mode of the mobile phone and turn off the cellular mobile communication function. In addition, large PEDs such as portable computers and PADs that exceed the specified size can only be used during the aircraft's cruising phase and are prohibited from being used during critical flight phases such as taxiing, takeoff, descent and landing.

It is reported that as of now, the size of China Eastern Airlines' in-flight Internet fleet that can provide in-flight WiFi services has reached 74 aircraft, covering all international long-distance routes and 166 key domestic business routes.

Many airlines are still in the evaluation stage

Some airlines have already taken the lead in "taking the plunge", can other airlines just sit there and wait?

"After the above-mentioned "Guidelines" were released, most airlines acted quickly," Spring Airlines spokesperson Zhang Wuan told reporters on the afternoon of January 17. Spring Airlines is still in the company evaluation stage and has not yet submitted an application to the relevant departments.

At the same time, Xiamen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines also responded that they are still in the evaluation stage.

Xiamen Airlines staff told reporters that Xiamen Airlines has set up a special project team to promote the evaluation of the use of portable electronic devices on board, but there is no specific timetable for the time being.

Lin Zhijie, an expert in the civil aviation industry, pointed out that the decision of airlines to open portable electronic devices on board is a win-win decision for all parties, which will not only greatly change the travel experience of passengers, but also bring many new changes to the industry. For example, the use of the mobile payment function of the Internet + mobile phone throughout the journey can effectively promote the sales of airlines' value-added service products, including the use of in-flight WiFi, duty-free goods, paid movies, etc.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.