In-flight connectivity is changing: here’s how

Summer is almost here, and millions of us will be boarding a flight over the coming months.

Aeroplanes used to provide a brief sanctuary from the stresses of daily life, where we might down a Cinzano in a reclining seat while chatting to Joan Collins.

However, the concept of a digital detox on board today’s flights seems as anachronistic as the smoking section, or a round of applause for the pilot after touchdown.

In-flight entertainment used to comprise movies and documentaries watched on compact seatback screens through supplied headphones.

Yet airlines are now racing to see who can provide the most comprehensive in-flight connectivity – in terms of communications as well as entertainment.

This is harder than it sounds, since many aeroplanes are temperamentally unsuited to offering in-flight connectivity, resulting in some rather unexpected WiFi networks…

I don’t like your altitude

It’s long been necessary to switch off mobile devices in the moments flanking take-off and landing, after which people were able to safely access digital hardware.

Back in 2003, Lufthansa pioneered the concept of basic in-flight connectivity once the plane was at a safe altitude, with Norwegian launching Europe’s first free airline WiFi in 2011.

Yet many planes – especially smaller domestic ‘puddle-jumpers’ – are incapable of distributing wireless internet to passengers.

Even long-haul aircraft face insurmountable challenges. The iconic Airbus A320 lacks its newer A350 sibling’s fibre optic cabling and satellite communications connectivity.

Early Boeing systems relied on a mixture of satellite and ground station coverage, with the latter typically dropping off at high altitudes or over water.

The introduction of geostationary satellites helped, but more modern arrays of low-Earth orbit satellites have enabled airlines to radically improve in-flight connectivity.

Because LEOs are less than a thousand miles above us, latency is far less of an issue, while electronically steerable array antennae automatically adjust to maintain optimal connections.

There were 10,000 connected airplanes in the sky as of 2022, and Boeing predict this number will have doubled by 2032.

Not only will this support every airborne device at once, it should also be sufficient to share large files and conduct HD video calls on platforms like Zoom, Teams or Meet.

Starting this year, British Airways will be rolling out LEO-powered ultrafast broadband on over 500 short and long-haul planes, replacing GoGo’s slower GEO service.

You can already expect decent WiFi from premium overseas carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, while high-speed connectivity is commonplace with Air Canada and Delta.

WiFi in the skies

As of May 2026, this is the Wi-Fi situation among the various UK-based airlines:

• British Airways. While 787s are being upgraded as outlined above, other BA flights offer a low-cost IM service (no attachments) or a pricier streaming package (free in first class).
• easyJet. The first of five budget airlines on this list, easyJet offers no WiFi services on any of its flights.
• Jet2. Although Jet2 officially doesn’t offer WiFi, it has been trialling a service on certain flights. In the meantime, there is no connectivity.
• Loganair. Glasgow-based Loganair offers no WiFi, which isn’t surprising when you consider one of its routes covers just 1.7 miles and another uses a beach as a runway.
• Ryanair. Ryanair’s rather Puritanical approach to aviation means WiFi is not even being considered.
• Virgin Atlantic. Almost every Virgin flight offers WiFi to enable voice calls and web browsing, though Airbus A330-300 and A350-1000 flights don’t support streaming.
• Wizz Air. Five UK-based aircraft have been fitted with an onboard WiFi system called Wizz Play, supporting light streaming and digital ordering, but this remains an active trial.