Free Internet For Air India Flyers On Domestic Flights: How Wi-Fi At 40,000 Feet Works

Last Updated:January 03, 2025, 12:08 IST

Wi-Fi will be available on Air India’s Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9, and select Airbus A321neo aircraft. The in-flight internet works on two kinds of technology: air-to-ground system and satellite-based Wi-Fi system

Air India is offering Wi-Fi on significantly newer planes than much of the carrier’s legacy fleet. (Photo: PTI)

Passengers of Air India domestic flights will now be able to browse internet, check social media and text on WhatsApp while flying above 10,000 feet, the Tata-owned airline has announced. The free Wi-Fi service is enabled for both iOS and Android mobile phones, laptops and tablets.

The service follows an initial pilot programme on Air India’s international routes, including flights to New York, London, Paris, and Singapore, it said in the release.

Which Air India Planes Have Onboard Wi-Fi?

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

Besides the new A350 aircraft, the other planes are understood to be those of erstwhile Vistara, which merged with Air India in November. All these aircraft are equipped with special hardware required to offer Internet connectivity on board. Vistara had been offering Internet on select international flights prior to the merger.

On Vistara aircraft, the service was provided by another Tata Group company, Nelco, in partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation. The same is being provided to Air India domestic flights, as per a report by The Indian Express.

How To Access Air India Wi-Fi

Here’s how passengers can access Wi-Fi aboard Air India flights:

• Enable Wi-Fi on your device and go to Wi-Fi settings

• Select the ‘Air India Wi-Fi’ network

• Once redirected to the Air India portal in your browser, enter your PNR and last name

How In-Flight Internet Works?

The in-flight internet systems are based on two kinds of technology. The first is an air-to-ground system. Here, an antenna on board the aircraft will pick up signals from the nearest tower on the ground. Up to a certain altitude, the connection will remain seamless, unless the aircraft passes over an area without ground towers.

Basically, the ground towers project signals upwards. Also, the on-board antennas used in this case are fitted beneath the airplane.

The second is the satellite-based Wi-Fi system, which is more popular now. Internet from ground stations is transmitted to aircraft through satellites, using antennae mounted on top of the aircraft’s body. This form of connectivity offers wider coverage, and is particularly useful in providing connectivity when the aircraft is flying over regions without ground towers.

The data is transmitted to the passenger’s personal device through an on-board router, which is connected to the aircraft’s antenna. When the aircraft reaches an altitude of 3,000 metres, the on-board antenna will switch to satellite-based services.

The in-flight Wi-Fi is typically much slower than on the ground.

How Expensive Is The In-Flight Wi-Fi?

Airlines have to bear the initial cost of installing antennae on aircraft. They are of the view that installing equipment on the new aircraft is much easier for them rather than taking planes out of service for retrofitting.

For Air India, which is has taken up a $400-million retrofit programme to refurbish its legacy narrow-body fleet, it might make sense to equip its older planes with Internet connectivity equipment as part of that exercise.

It is worth noting that the aircraft on which the airline is currently offering Wi-Fi are significantly newer than much of the carrier’s legacy fleet, and came installed with the necessary equipment.

Most international airlines offer a limited volume of free Internet before asking the customer to buy a data pack, which is expensive. Some carriers provide limited or unlimited Internet to members of their loyalty programmes, and business class and first-class passengers.

Why Mobile Data Is Prohibited On Planes?

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, “scientific research has shown that mobile phones can interfere with the normal operation of aircraft equipment and can also cause interference in pilot’s headsets”.

The radio waves that certain electronic devices emit can significantly impact the pilot’s navigation and radar tools, connectivity with ground control and even collision avoidance technologies.

“While most mobile phones don’t emit strong radio waves, devices including Kindles, iPods, laptops and even handheld gaming consoles all also give off radio waves, especially in a compact space,” Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s travel expert told Conde Nast.

Can Phone Calls Be Made In Flight?

In 2022, Europe approved phone calls and data use during flights. By 2023, European airlines introduced 5G onboard, enabling passengers to make calls and send texts.

To support this, the EU allocated specific frequencies (4.2–4.4 GHz) for in-flight 5G, distinct from land-based 5G (3.4–3.8 GHz), ensuring no interference with aircraft systems.

Additionally, EU regulations mandate the installation of “pico cells” on planes. These devices manage

phone signals, preventing them from disrupting aviation communication systems.

The US Federal Communications Commission in 2020 scuttled plans to allow in-flight voice and data services via mobile wireless frequencies, saying that there was strong opposition including from airline pilots and flight attendants on safety and national security grounds, as per a report by Bloomberg.