American Airlines will soon offer free Wi-Fi on most of its flights, beginning in January 2026, for members of its free loyalty program.
The big picture: The airline plans to provide Wi-Fi on 90% of its fleet, more than any other domestic carrier, as announced in a press release.
- Previously, American Airlines charged for Wi-Fi, with prices ranging from $10 for a single flight to $599 for an annual pass.
- The carrier tested free Wi-Fi on some routes and found that the performance exceeded expectations.
Zoom out: Delta Air Lines added free Wi-Fi on most flights in 2023, while United Airlines plans to offer free internet powered by Elon Musk’s Starlink on its fleet by the end of this year.
- JetBlue has been offering free Wi-Fi since 2013, leading the way in providing this perk to passengers.
Go deeper: American Airlines announced that AT&T will sponsor the free Wi-Fi service, helping to offset the costs of equipping planes with the necessary internet connectivity.
- In-flight internet services have been available since 2003 when Boeing introduced its Connexion service, which was later discontinued in 2006 due to unmet market expectations.
