Singapore Airlines to roll out free Wi-fi for all passengers in rare move
- It will become one of the first major international airlines worldwide to offer free, unlimited Wi-fi to all passengers in all classes from July 1
- Singapore Airlines said that the offer would apply to 129 of its 136 aircraft, except for seven Boeing 737-800 NGs it said are ‘not Wi-fi enabled’
Singapore Airlines has joined the handful of carriers offering free on board Wi-fi to all passengers, and from July 1 onwards, customers will be able to browse and surf without the usual charges or data limits.
In-air internet has long been an awkward and messy extra expense that is usually more trouble than it was worth, if even available, and typically remains exclusive to those who shell out for a first-class or business traveller seat.
Although time online has dropped compared to Covid lockdowns, when people were often left with little else to do, the world’s 5 billion regular internet users were still spending over six hours a day surfing and scrolling in 2022, according to We Are Social, a UK business that tracks web and social media use.
At the same time, air passenger numbers are rebounding. According to the International Air Transport Association, global passenger traffic in April 2023 was back to 90 per cent of the pre-Covid level, meaning the world is on track for a return to the 4.5 billion carried in 2019, the year before the pandemic started and with it the imposition of restrictions on travel.
Putting two and two together, carriers such as Singapore Airlines are looking to free Wi-fi as a way to sway passengers when it comes to deciding which airline to fly with.
“In today’s increasingly hyper-connected world, high-speed in-flight Wi-fi connectivity is one of the most important requirements for our customers,” said Yeoh Phee Teik, the airline’s senior vice-president customer experience.