Air Canada to Launch Free Inflight Wi-Fi Starting in May 2025
by Daniel McCarthy
Air Canada and its flight attendants remain without a deal.
Air Canada announced Thursday morning that it plans to begin rolling out “fast, free streaming-quality Wi-Fi” across its fleet starting in May 2025.
The service, sponsored by Bell, will initially be available to Aeroplan members on Wi-Fi-equipped planes flying within North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Air Canada said about 85% of its fleet will be covered, including flights from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport to Montreal and Ottawa.
The carrier plans to expand the service to all long-haul international routes starting in 2026.
Air Canada already offers free Wi-Fi for texting onboard, a service that has been available to Aeroplan members since May 2023. The new service will allow passengers to stream entertainment, including live TV, send emails, and stay connected throughout their flight.
“Reliable access to streaming-quality Wi-Fi is becoming essential for both business and leisure travelers. That’s why we’re upgrading our fleet with the latest technologies,” said Mark Nasr, executive vice president of marketing and digital and president of Aeroplan at Air Canada.
Offering free Wi-Fi has taken off for a lot of North American carriers, including Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United, American, and more. The news will make Air Canada the first Canada-specific major carrier to offer it to its guests (WestJet offers Wi-Fi for purchase).
