Checking emails over the Arabian Sea, scrolling social media at 35,000 feet or replying to work messages mid-flight is fast becoming routine for Indian travellers, with more than one million passengers using Air India’s inflight Wi-Fi service over the past year.The airline said the milestone reflects the growing demand for onboard connectivity as more passengers expect uninterrupted internet access while travelling.Available on more than 55 flights every day, the service has witnessed a sharp rise in adoption. Passenger usage increased from 30 per cent in June 2025 to 55 per cent in June 2026, highlighting changing travel habits and growing reliance on digital connectivity even during flights.According to Air India officials, the social media continues to dominate onboard internet usage, with nearly 89 per cent of connected passengers using the service to stream or browse social platforms. The remaining 11 per cent accessed emails, messaging applications and websites during their journey.Over the past year, passengers consumed nearly 500 terabytes of data through the airline’s Wi-Fi network. Streaming accounted for 86 per cent of the total data usage, while web browsing made up the remaining 14 per cent.The figures come as airlines increasingly view inflight connectivity as an essential passenger service rather than a premium offering, particularly on long-haul international routes where travellers seek to remain connected throughout their journey.At present, Air India’s Wi-Fi-enabled fleet comprises 28 aircraft operating services to destinations including London, New York, Newark, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Manila and Mauritius. The airline said more aircraft and routes will be added to the connected network in phases.As the rollout expands, Air India expects onboard internet access to become a standard feature across a larger part of its international operations, allowing passengers to work, communicate and stay connected throughout their journey.