Starting from January 2026, American Airlines will be offering free Wi-Fi on 90% of its aircraft. It is thereby the latest major American airline to offer a free internet connection to its travellers although only members of their free AAdvantage loyalty program will have access to the service.
Until now, those travelling with American Airlines still had to pay in order to get access to Wi-Fi on board. Prices ranged from $10 for a flight to $599 for an annual pass. While testing a free internet service on some of its routes, the airline discovered it “surpassed performance expectations”.
Now, as of January 2026, the service will be available on nine out of ten American Airlines plane to those who are a member of the AAdvantage loyalty program. American will be partnering with telecommunications specialist AT&T for the update, who will equip most of the fleet with Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity
“Our customers greatly value staying connected while in the air, whether communicating with friends, getting work done, checking in on social media or streaming their favourite subscription services. We’ve been working diligently to outfit our aircraft with best-in-class high-speed Wi-Fi and together with AT&T are proud to offer those services at no cost to our most loyal customers. This was a natural partnership in every aspect: two iconic Texas-based brands, known for innovation and connection,” said Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer at American Airlines.
More planes than any other US carrier
Thanks to the move, American Airlines will be offering complimentary inflight Wi-Fi across more than two million American flights a year. 500 regional aircraft will be equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2025 in order to be prepared for the new service. According to the airline, it will thus offer free Wi-Fi on more planes than any other domestic carrier in the US.
“People want to be connected. Everywhere. All the time. Whether it’s staying in touch with those who matter most, following a favourite sports team or catching up on that show everyone is talking about, connectivity brings people a world of possibilities. By advancing connectivity, everything becomes more immediate and accessible anywhere they go. We are proud to partner with American Airlines to connect people to what matters most to them — even in the sky,” said Jenifer Robertson, EVP & GM Mass Markets at AT&T.
American Airlines isn’t the first American airline to be offering free Wi-Fi to its customers. JetBlue started to do so in 2013 already, while Delta Air Lines jumped on the bandwagon in 2023. United Airlines recently announced to be partnering with Starlink, a service that should be fully rolled out by the end of 2025.
