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The onboard retail market is growing at a 13% rate, year over year; what airlines see as a new revenue stream, though, some travellers see as an irritant

New York

ROSE Wang, a frequent traveller, is willing to concede that she sort of misses the kitschy SkyMall catalogue and its quirky roundup of gadgets, pet accessories and other oddities.

But Ms Wang, who lives in the Washington area and is a consultant to government contractors, is less than enthusiastic about what she perceives as a creeping influx of retail pitches that she encounters while in flight.

"When you get on the entertainment console, there are more ads, and if you log onto the Wi-Fi, of course, there's ads," she said.

Airlines say they are just giving passengers what they want: a chance to shop.

"They're looking for other things to entertain themselves," said Jamie Perry, vice-president...

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