A Chinese airline tested a program on July 23 that would allow passengers to use the Internet during flights, paving the way for the technology's application in China's booming aviation market.

The satellite-based Wifi service was made available on a flight operated by China Eastern Airlines, the first test of the service on a Chinese commercial flight. The service was launched on an Airbus A330 servicing the Shanghai-Beijing route.

The aircraft is installed with devices that use satellites to transmit signals, boasting better bandwidth and stability compared to communication via base stations, Zhang Chi with China Eastern Airlines told Xinhua News Agency.

The trial is an important step for in-flight Wifi services to win approval from the country's aviation regulators, who have yet to issue licenses for its commercial use. The trial will help collect data and passenger feedback for setting standards and rules, Zhang said.