In a first, Air India rolls out Wi-Fi for select domestic flights

Tata Group airline Air India has rolled out Wi-Fi internet connectivity services on board domestic and international flights operated by select aircraft in its fleet.

With the rollout of this service, Air India has become the first Indian airline to offer internet connectivity on domestic flights.

“Connectivity is now an integral part of modern travel. For some, it is about the convenience and comfort of real-time sharing, while for others, it is about greater productivity and efficiency. Whatever be one’s purpose, we are confident that our guests will appreciate having the option of connecting to the web and enjoy the new Air India experience on board these aircraft,” said Air India’s Chief Customer Experience Officer Rajesh Dogra in a statement.

Wi-Fi will be offered free of charge on domestic flights operated by select aircraft for a limited introductory period, the airline said in a statement.

The airline did not specify the length of the introductory period. Over time, Air India plans to progressively offer the service on other aircraft in its fleet.

For now, Wi-Fi connectivity will be available on the airline’s Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9, and select Airbus A321neo aircraft, according to the airline. The airline was already offering internet connectivity on board international flights operated by these aircraft as part of an ongoing pilot programme.

On-board internet services are fast becoming a standard offering, particularly among major full-service carriers (FSCs) globally. Air India has ambitions to be counted among the world’s foremost FSCs.

Special hardware

Apart from the new A350 planes, which Air India started operating in 2024, the other aircraft are understood to be those of erstwhile Vistara, which merged with Air India in November. All these aircraft are equipped with special hardware that is required to offer internet connectivity on board. Vistara had been offering internet connectivity on select international flights before the merger.

On board the Vistara aircraft, the service was facilitated by another Tata group company — Nelco — in partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation. The same service is being extended to Air India’s domestic flights operated by the select fleet, it is learnt.

Accessible on Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems, the in-flight Wi-Fi will also allow guests to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

“The deployment of Wi-Fi on domestic routes follows an ongoing pilot programme on international services operated by the Airbus A350, select Airbus A321 neo, and Boeing B787-9 aircraft serving international destinations including New York, London, Paris, and Singapore. As with the domestic offer, Wi-Fi is complimentary for an introductory period. Air India will progressively roll out the service on other aircraft in its fleet over time,” Air India said.

According to Air India, passengers will have to enable Wi-Fi on their devices and select the ‘Air India Wi-Fi’ network to access internet connectivity on board the selected aircraft. They will then be redirected to the Air India portal on the device’s default browser, and will need to enter their details, including PNR and last name. After this, the device will be connected to the Wi-Fi network.