American Airlines has announced plans to eventually provide free wireless network on flights. The company said its AT&T sponsorship program will start offering free high-speed Wi-Fi “over 2 million U.S. flights per year” in January 2026.
In order to be able to access free Wi-Fi, you have to be a member of the American Aadvantage loyalty program, but once you sign up, all you need to do is log in to access the Internet. According to 90% of American Airlines’ fleet, Wi-Fi will be available on aircraft with “Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity.” “The Americans are still working hard to equip high-speed Wi-Fi in 500 regions by the end of 2025,” the company said.
Almost all major U.S.-based airlines offer some kind of free Wi-Fi plan, and they can do so thanks to satellite connectivity. Manchester United started using Starlink for Wi-Fi earlier this year, with Hawaiian Airlines and Delta both testing with SpaceX’s satellite internet service in 2022. Delta ended up joining Viasat for the 2023 T-Mobile-sponsored Wi-Fi program and the same loyalty program as American Airlines.
