Staying connected at cruising altitude has become significantly more accessible with Air Canada’s latest initiative. As of May 1, the airline has launched “fast, free Wi-Fi” for its loyal Aeroplan members on flights throughout North America and select sun destinations, including the Caribbean and Mexico.
Expansion of In-Flight Wi-Fi
Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada, shared some insights about the new service, stating, “We now offer Wi-Fi on 88% of our fleet, with the remaining installations set to be completed by early 2026.” Notably, Air Canada is poised to be the first airline to introduce Wi-Fi on its Express Q400 aircraft serving Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport.
Free Access for Aeroplan Members
While Wi-Fi is complimentary for Aeroplan members, it is important to note that joining the rewards program incurs no cost. For passengers who are not members, they can purchase Wi-Fi access at a flat fee during their flight.
Thanks to a sponsorship deal with Bell, Air Canada is able to provide streaming video services and gaming on personal devices during flights. Members of Aeroplan can take advantage of complimentary, streaming-quality Wi-Fi from gate to gate on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express flights operated by CRJ900 aircraft.
Future Installations and Services
The airline has plans to expand its Wi-Fi installations to include the Embraer E175 fleet and the De Havilland Q400 aircraft serving Billy Bishop Airport later this year. Furthermore, Air Canada anticipates rolling out free Wi-Fi on its long-haul international routes by 2026. Until then, free texting remains available for Aeroplan members on international flights.
Testing out the service, an Open Jaw correspondent successfully used the free Wi-Fi on April 30 during a flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The connection was easy to navigate for sending emails and streaming popular shows like Eugene Levy’s “The Reluctant Traveler” and the dark comedy “Bad Monkey.”
Connecting to In-Flight Wi-Fi
To access the free in-flight Wi-Fi, users should ensure their Aeroplan number is entered during booking or added during check-in. Once onboard, simply connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi network and follow the instructions provided. For switching devices, users can repeat the connection steps, allowing seamless transfer between devices.
Enhancing the Travel Experience
Nasr emphasized the growing necessity of quality connectivity for travelers, stating, “This initiative underscores Air Canada’s focus on elevating the customer experience, with leadership in providing streaming-quality connectivity, at a pace unmatched by other airlines—both domestically and globally.”
Blaik Kirby, Group President of Consumer and Small Business at Bell, added, “We’ve proudly sponsored in-flight Wi-Fi for Aeroplan Members since 2023, starting with free texting. Now, we’re thrilled to help take that experience to the next level—enabling streaming, gaming, and more from gate to gate.”
Comparative Insights with Other Airlines
For context, a spokesperson for WestJet stated that the airline currently offers complimentary Wi-Fi on 30% of its narrowbody fleet. Plans are in place to complete all installations and upgrades on their narrowbody fleets by the end of 2025 and on widebody aircraft by the close of 2026.
Similarly, Porter Airlines provides free Wi-Fi on all its Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, although other aircraft in its fleet do not currently feature this service.
For more information on Air Canada’s Wi-Fi services and to learn about Aeroplan membership, visit Air Canada’s official website.
