Air Canada will make inflight Wi-Fi free starting in May
Air Canada is about to become the latest airline to make it easier to stay connected.
The Canadian carrier said Thursday that it will make gate-to-gate Wi-Fi available for free across its fleet in a phased introduction, with the first stage beginning this coming spring. The amenity will eventually be available on all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, along with most flights operated by Air Canada Express aircraft.
Flights within North America and the Caribbean will get the complimentary connectivity first, with rollout expected to begin in May 2025, the airline said. Air Canada plans to introduce the free Wi-Fi on long-haul international flights sometime in 2026.
Upgrades clearing less? Airlines say more passengers are just paying for those first-class seats
Notably, the fleet of De Havilland Canada Q400, or "Dash 8," turboprop aircraft that fly across the Air Canada Express regional network will also be retrofitted with free-to-use Wi-Fi. Air Canada said that it will be the first time that an airline will install in-flight Wi-Fi on a Q400 — "including those that fly from Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport," the carrier said in a statement.
The statement is likely a reference to Air Canada's competition with boutique carrier Porter Airlines at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), where both airlines use only Q400 turboprops at the close-to-downtown airfield. Porter offers Wi-Fi on its Embraer aircraft that fly from other airports, but not on its Q400s that fly from YTZ.
As for Air Canada's Wi-Fi, there's one catch, albeit an easy one to work with: To connect to the Wi-Fi without having to pay, passengers must be members of the airline's Aeroplan frequent flyer program, and log into their accounts. Fortunately, anyone can join Aeroplan for free ahead of their flight. If for some reason a passenger does not want to sign up for the program, they'll be able to pay a fee to get online, the airline said. Air Canada already offers free texting on some flights, which similarly requires an Aeroplan account.
The connectivity will be sponsored by telecommunications service provider Bell, according to Air Canada.
An increasing number of airlines have begun to offer free Wi-Fi in recent years, although most still charge fees to connect during flight.
In early 2023, Delta Air Lines began offering free Wi-Fi to all SkyMiles members on most of its domestic mainline fleet, although some older aircraft types were not included initially. The airline began rolling out free connectivity on long-haul flights earlier this summer, with the full rollout scheduled in stages through late-2025.
Air Canada's Star Alliance partner United Airlines said in September that it also plans to offer free Wi-Fi aboard flights starting later in 2025 when it begins installing Starlink service across its fleet.
JetBlue, meanwhile, became the first U.S. airline to offer free Wi-Fi all the way back in 2017, and still continues to today.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees