Air Canada Launches Free Wi-Fi on North American Flights

In December 2024, Air Canada announced that it planned to launch free in-flight Wi-Fi on flights within North America and to Sun destinations in the spring.

Today, Air Canada has announced that Aeroplan members travelling on the vast majority of flights within North America and to Sun destinations now enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.

Air Canada Launches Free Wi-Fi on North American Flights

If you’re flying with Air Canada, staying connected in the skies just got a lot easier – and a lot faster, too.

Today, Air Canada officially launched fast, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members, sponsored by Bell. Passengers travelling on an Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express (CRJ900 aircraft only) flight within North America or to the Caribbean can now connect to in-flight Wi-Fi for free.

Since the initial announcement in December 2024, Air Canada’s in-flight connectivity team has been hard at work, and these flights now support Wi-Fi speeds that allow for gate-to-gate video streaming, gaming, and more.

Furthermore, Air Canada expects to have certification and installation of Wi-Fi on its Embraer E175 and De Havilland Q400s serving Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) later this year. This will be an industry first for the Q400s, and Air Canada will also become the only carrier to offer Wi-Fi on flights to and from YTZ.

Plus, Canada’s largest airline expects fast, free Wi-Fi to roll out on its long-haul international routes in 2026. Until then, Aeroplan members can still benefit from free in-flight texting.

If you’re an Aeroplan member, be sure to add your number to your booking. If you’re not an Aeroplan member, be sure to sign up for free on the Air Canada website before your flight, and attach your number to your booking.

Then, once onboard your flight, connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi network and follow the on-screen instructions to connect for free.

Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada, had this to say about the rollout of free Wi-Fi:

Quality connectivity has become indispensable for all travelers. Starting today we’re thrilled to offer complimentary Wi-Fi on North American, Mexican and Caribbean flights for Aeroplan Members, by partnering with Bell.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 — at home and around the world. We now offer Wi-Fi on 88 per cent of our fleet, with the remaining installations to be completed by early 2026. This will include an industry first with the upcoming launch of Wi-Fi on Air Canada Express Q400s serving Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport. 

Free Wi-Fi: Another Win for Passengers

The rollout of free in-flight Wi-Fi is a big win for Air Canada passengers, and it’s something that I believe many will appreciate.

If you don’t find anything that catches your eye on Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment system, you’ll be able to pass the time by connecting to the Wi-Fi with your own device and making your own selection. 

It’s worth noting that free Wi-Fi comes as the latest enhancement to the passenger experience, after Air Canada extended complimentary premium snacks, beer, and wine on domestic and transborder flights. Plus, the airline introduced live TV to its in-flight entertainment offering, and continues to enhance the features on its app.

As someone who works remotely and travels a fair bit, in-flight Wi-Fi has become something that I value. Personally, I’ve always found Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment options to be excellent, and it’s great to see another feature being added for Aeroplan members onboard Air Canada flights.

Free in-flight Wi-Fi for all passengers is becoming more of a norm with airlines these days, whereas it used to be reserved for passengers in premium cabins or as a perk with top-tier status.

In Canada, Porter Airlines offers free Wi-Fi on all flights with its fleet of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, and WestJet is rolling out free in-flight Wi-Fi on some of its fleet through a partnership with TELUS and Starlink.

Conclusion

As of May 1, 2025, Air Canada passengers travelling on most flights in North America can now benefit from free, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi. 

From here, the airline expects to roll out free Wi-Fi on more aircraft, including its fleet of Embraer E175 and De Havilland Q400s, and expects to offer the same perks on long-haul flights in 2026.

With Wi-Fi offered on 88% of its fleet, staying connected on an Air Canada flight is getting easier (and cheaper) than ever before.