Air India Introduces Free Wi-Fi on Domestic Routes

‍DALLAS — On January 1, 2025, Air India (AI), the Indian flagship carrier, rolled out free onboard Internet access on domestic flights, free of charge for a short period of introduction, on all flights operated by the carrier's A350, Boeing 787-9 and select A321neo aircraft.

The service's launch makes the Tata Group airline the first carrier to offer in-flight Wi-Fi internet connectivity on flights within India. This allows passengers to stay connected during scheduled flights. 

Onboard Wi-Fi is accessible on laptops, tablets, and smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems. The in-flight Wi-Fi will also enable passengers to connect multiple devices above 10,000 feet simultaneously. 

AI-provided inflight Wi-Fi allows travelers to access the web and social media, work online, or send text messages.

While initially being provided free of charge, the complimentary Wi-Fi service will only be offered for an introductory period.

The Pilot Program

The airline owned by TATA Group enrolled in a pilot program last year that involves in-flight Wi-Fi on international flights operated with specific aircraft models—A350 and Boeing 787-9—to destinations like Singapore (SIN), New York (JFK), London (LHR), and Paris (CDG).

The pilot program is meant to improve WI-FI onboard over the Indian region. 

For many years, due to Indian regulations, all flights entering and crossing Indian aerospace suffered from an Internet shortage caused by the turning-off system. 

In late 2018, India’s  DOT (Department of Telecommunications) rolled out the Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, which allowed all airlines flying over India to offer in-flight connectivity.

In 2024, there were still some restrictions: as a consequence of some state regulations, the onboard WI-FI was accessible to the devices only if located above 3000 meters to not interfere with earth-located devices and networks. In the same year, the Indian government removed this rule. 

The Delhi-based airline (DEL) aims to gradually expand its Wi-Fi connectivity to other aircraft in its fleet in the future. Once the service is running on the entire fleet, AI will introduce prices and fares.

As reported by Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer of AI, in-flight WI-FI is a pillar of modern travel; whatever the purpose of the connection, based on the customer's needs, the on-board connectivity grants the possibility to enjoy the new AI onboard experience.

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