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Air France will become the first major European airline to offer free, high-speed Wi-Fi to all customers on its flights. I first wrote about this back in September 2024 and the innovative service is now live with the airline equipping its fifth aircraft this week. This marks the introduction of high-speed connectivity to its long-haul Airbus A350 fleet. This is exciting news and 30% of Air France’s fleet will feature the service by the end of 2025 (with full fleet coverage expected by the end of 2026).
The new Wi-Fi service is completely free across all travel cabins. Passengers can stay connected with loved ones, stream movies and TV shows, play multiplayer video games, or follow breaking news in real-time (all while cruising at 35,000 feet). The service allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously and supports smartphones, tablets, and laptops with a secure and stable connection. Access is simple. Flying Blue members can log in using their frequent flyer credentials. Passengers without an account can sign up for Flying Blue mid-flight, free of charge, in just a few clicks.
The rollout began with two Embraer 190s and two Airbus A220s. This week, an Airbus A350 joined the program. It officially brought the technology to the airline’s long-haul network. This phased approach will ensure consistent connectivity as the service expands to domestic, regional, and international flights to cover Air France’s entire route network by late 2026.
To deliver reliable, cutting-edge inflight connectivity, Air France has partnered with Starlink. Its low-Earth orbit satellite network offers high-speed, low-latency internet, and ensures passengers enjoy a seamless streaming and browsing experience. During the transition period, passengers flying on aircraft not yet equipped with the new system will still have access to Air France’s current internet service. This includes free messaging for Flying Blue members, paid options for streaming, browsing, and other high-data activities, and complimentary full access for Flying Blue Ultimate and La Première passengers.
The introduction of free, high-speed Wi-Fi is part of Air France’s broader strategy to move upmarket and meet the evolving expectations of modern travelers. By the end of 2026, every Air France passenger will have access to unlimited, high-speed Wi-Fi. For now, those flying on select Airbus A350s, A220s, and Embraer 190s will be among the first to experience the future of inflight entertainment and connectivity.
Anthony’s Take: I hope all airlines eventually offer fast, free Wi-Fi. We’re moving in that direction and Air France is leading the way in Europe.
(Image Credits: Air France.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
