Airport wi-fi more important than food for travellers

Airline travellers say that having access to wireless internet while travelling through airports is more important than having access to food, a new survey reveals.

The survey, undertaken by American Airlines and Hewlett-Packard, found that 47% of business travellers believed that wireless internet was the “most important airport amenity, outscoring basic travels needs such as food by nearly 30%”/

Out of the 1500 respondents surveyed, around 67% said dead batteries and no available power outlets are the biggest problem in airports, with 90% of travellers owning either a laptop or mobile phone.

The survey also found that the amount of work undertaken while flying drops due to lack of wi-fi. Several airlines are now attempting to introduce wireless internet as part of normal in-flight services.