Half of UK adults support internet access on aircraft, compared to 13% opposed to the idea, according to a new poll.
Younger passengers are even more supportive, with three quarters of 18-24 year olds supporting online access, the YouGov study found.
Iain Regan, global head of sales and marketing at Firstsource Solutions, which commissioned the research, told the Daily Telegraph that British business travellers wanted to “stay connected to colleagues or customers” and that tourists wanted to be able to download games and music.
Some US airlines allow passengers to use the internet on board, but most UK airlines ban it for insurance reasons, despite research suggesting that it is safe to use the web in transit.
The practice is costing the British economy around £640 million a year, researchers have claimed.