Air Canadahas announced, in partnership with telecom giant Bell, that it will offer free gate-to-gate Wi-Fi with reliable streaming quality connectivity from May 2025.
This exclusive benefit is available to members of Aeroplan, Air Canada’s frequent flyer program, who can easily access it by logging into their account. The good news is that anyone can sign up for this program for free.
For passengers who prefer not to register, Wi-Fi services are still available at competitive rates: $6.50 for a one-hour pass or $21 for full flight access. Air Canada also offers monthly subscription packages for $65.95.
But first some differences. Gate-to-gate Wi-Fi connectivity differs from traditional inflight Internet because it allows you to connect to the Wi-Fi network as soon as you board the plane. This means you can stay connected for the entire flight, from your outbound city to your destination.
In contrast, most airlines offering similar services require the aircraft to reach an altitude of 10,000 feet before turning on the Wi-Fi network. That is not the case with Air Canada.
Mark Nasr, Air Canada’s vice-president of marketing and president of Aeroplan, emphasized that customers have been asking for free Wi-Fi in recent years and the airline is now ready to deliver it.
“We think it’s becoming a core expectation for customers, whether they’re traveling for business or leisure… We said, let’s get the installations done first. Let’s make sure that when we announce this, it’s available to a critical mass.”
In the first phase, the service will be available to passengers traveling from North America to the Caribbean. International long-haul flights will have to wait until 2026 for the rollout.
For now, loyalty program members who travel the world can send and receive messages on apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger, Google and Viber, regardless of their mobile company. But no more than that.
Along the same lines, Air Canada announced that its renowned Dash 8 turboprop aircraft, operating within the regional Express network, will also be equipped with free Wi-Fi. This upgrade applies to flights through Canada and the US
As of today, more than 67% of Air Canada’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet has been retrofitted with Wi-Fi technology. The company has committed to upgrading the rest of the aircraft by the end of 2025.
“Reliable access to streaming quality Wi-Fi is becoming essential for business and leisure travelers alike. That is why we are upgrading our fleet with the latest technologies.” Nasr said. “In addition, more than 85% of aircraft will be connected from day one, while the remaining installations will be a priority in 2025.”
Other airlines already offer internet services on board
Air Canada isn’t the first airline to offer this essential service for free.
Earlier this year, WestJet announced it would offer free internet access to members of its loyalty program through Elon Musk’s Starlink. The company also announced that it will equip all of its narrowbody aircraft with this technology by the end of 2025, with the remaining fleet to follow by the end of 2026.
In the meantime, Delta Airlines started offering free Wi-Fi to all SkyMiles members on domestic flights last year, and later expanded the service to long-haul flights starting last summer.
However, it was the first American airline to take the lead in offering free Wi-Fi on board JetBlue, who introduced the benefit in 2017. Since then, several airlines have followed suit.