American Airlines to Offer Free Wi-Fi on Most Flights Starting 2026

American Airlines to launch free Wi-Fi on most flights by 2026 — excludes most transatlantic routes, but over 100 weekly flights to Jamaica could potentially be included

American Airlines will soon offer free Wi-Fi on most of its flights

American Airlines has announced that it will begin offering free Wi-Fi on the majority of its flights starting January 2026, becoming one of the latest major carriers to introduce the popular perk.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the airline confirmed that the complimentary service will be available on aircraft equipped with high-speed satellite systems from Viasat and Intelsat.

American Airlines currently operates over 100 flights per week between various U.S. cities and Jamaica’s three international airports: Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and Ian Fleming International Airport in St. Mary.

However, the free Wi-Fi will not extend to most of its long-haul international flights, as many of those aircraft are outfitted with Panasonic systems that currently lack the necessary bandwidth. That said, new wide-body planes entering service are expected to feature Viasat connectivity, potentially enabling free access on select international routes in the future.

American was among the few U.S.-based airlines still charging for in-flight Wi-Fi, with fees ranging from $10 per flight to $599 annually.