American Airlines to Test Complimentary Inflight Wi-Fi

American Airlines will begin testing free inflight internet service on three routes next week as the pressure mounts for carriers to offer complimentary connectivity. The trials will take place on flights connecting:

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Charlotte to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Miami International Airport (MIA) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

This move comes as competitors push ahead with free Wi-Fi offerings. For example, Delta Air Lines made Wi-Fi free for SkyMiles members two years ago, United Airlines is set to provide complimentary service using Elon Musk’s Starlink technology, and Hawaiian Airlines—now part of Alaska Airlines—also offers free connectivity.

American Airlines, known for its relatively high-priced Wi-Fi—with flight passes often exceeding $20—has been working to win back customers after a challenging period following a failed business travel sales strategy last year.

According to Heather Garboden, American’s Chief Customer Officer, the testing phase will assess customer take rates, evaluate the provider and aircraft capacity, and measure the overall impact on customer satisfaction.

While the current trial is limited in scope, the airline has yet to confirm if complimentary Wi-Fi will be expanded to a broader portion of its network in the future.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com