American Airlines has announced that it will start providing complimentary Wi-Fi service for its passengers beginning in January. This move comes as various airlines increasingly adopt free internet offerings for their loyalty program members, putting additional pressure on those still charging for the service.
The complimentary Wi-Fi will be made possible through sponsorship from AT&T and will be accessible to members of the AAdvantage loyalty program, the airline confirmed on Tuesday.
Comparatively, JetBlue Airways has provided free inflight internet for several years, and Delta Air Lines began offering complimentary access to its SkyMiles loyalty members earlier this year.
Additionally, United Airlines is currently outfitting its aircraft with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite Wi-Fi, which will also be free for MileagePlus loyalty members.
Currently, American Airlines charges over $20 for inflight Wi-Fi on most flights. However, starting in January, the complimentary service will be available on aircraft equipped with Intelsat and Viasat satellite Wi-Fi, covering approximately 90% of the airline’s fleet by next year. Some of the older Boeing wide-body jets will not offer the free service, although Wi-Fi will still remain available onboard.
American Airlines has been conducting trials of the service on selected routes and is additionally planning to implement high-speed internet on 500 regional aircraft by the end of next year, according to the airline.
Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines remains one of the few carriers yet to indicate whether it will introduce free Wi-Fi for its passengers.
