American is the latest U.S. airline with plans to offer free Wi-Fi onboard its flights, joining Delta and United. Sponsored by AT&T, the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline says connectivity will be available on around 90% of its fleet.
This new service will roll out in January 2026. The carrier’s AAdvantage members will be able to access free Wi-Fi on over two million flights per year.
“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 favorite subscription services,” said Heather Garboden, American’s chief customer officer, in a news release. “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.”
Aircraft with Viasat and Intelsat Wi=Fi providers will feature the complimentary service. American’s widebody Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft feature Panasonic Wi-Fi, which is generally slower than its other providers.
In addition, the airline is working to retrofit its regional jets with high-speed connectivity. By the end of 2025, the carrier expects over 500 regional aircraft to feature this service.
In March, American began testing free Wi-Fi on select flights “to gauge the strength of its service, which surpassed performance expectations.”
United is in the process of debuting Elon Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet. The carrier recently received Federal Aviation Administration approval for the new technology, with plans to equip around 40 jets per month with free Wi-Fi service.
