We’ve seen a trend lately whereby more airlines have made free Wi-Fi available for more passengers. Japanese Star Alliance carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the latest airline to introduce free inflight connectivity…
In this post:
ANA adds free Wi-Fi in business class as of summer 2024
As of the summer of 2024, ANA will begin offering free Wi-Fi for business class passengers on international flights. This is something that has been available to first class passengers for quite some time, so it’s nice to see this extended to business class as well.
Since ANA’s Wi-Fi service on most jets no longer has data limits, I’d assume that this new perk offer unlimited free Wi-Fi, without data caps. Historically, Wi-Fi on a long haul flight has cost a bit over $20.
Note that there are two restrictions when it comes to this opportunity:
- Free Wi-Fi won’t be available on ANA’s fleet of six Boeing 767-300ERs; this is because inflight connectivity is being suspended as of May 31, 2024, due to the withdrawal of the inflight connectivity supplier, SITA, from the business
- Free Wi-Fi won’t initially be available on ANA’s fleet of three Boeing 777-300ERs not featuring new cabins; that’s because these planes will be getting a new inflight connectivity supplier, and it will be launched “as soon as it is ready” (which hopefully means the remaining three planes will be reconfigured with new cabins in the near future)
ANA adds free texting in premium economy & economy as of March 2025
There’s good news for non-first and business class passengers as well, though some patience will be required. As of March 2025, ANA will begin offering free inflight texting to premium economy and economy passengers on international flights.
It’s not entirely clear yet which apps and services will be available with this free texting plan, though the press release states that “texting refers to sending and receiving of text messages via social media, email, etc.” Being able to send emails with complimentary inflight texting actually sounds better than I would have expected.
While not as good as unlimited free Wi-Fi, this is still a nice way to stay in touch with loved ones and friends while inflight.
Bottom line
All Nippon Airways is making inflight connectivity free for more passengers. As of the summer of 2024, we’ll see business class passengers on international flights get free Wi-Fi, and then as of March 2025, we’ll see premium economy and economy passengers on international flights get free messaging.
It’s nice to see the trend toward more airlines offering inflight connectivity at no cost, so this is an improvement to the passenger experience. Hopefully oneworld rival Japan Airlines matches this move on ANA’s part.
What do you make of ANA’s inflight connectivity changes?
The airplane was one of the last peaceful places where one could be off-line for some hours. Of course I will still choose to do so and ignore in-flight wi-fi, but alas I will not have an excuse "sorry, not available during the flight" anymore, for those insisting...
Let’s see how fast it would be, and how long it would be actually usable. Most flights from US to Japan fly over the arctic region and satellite connection is not available there, on my understanding.
They fly well south of the Arctic circle
It’s 2024 and they’re just now going to start offering it? Yeesh.
Better late than never
Free wifi and free texting in PE and economy should be the norm these days.
Whoops, meant to say free wifi in business class...