American Airlines To Upgrade Its Inflight WiFi

American will become the first US carrier to offer video streaming on 100% of its mainline fleet.

Earlier today, American Airlines announced that by next month 100% of its equipped regional and widebody aircraft would offer free WiFi for T-Mobile customers.

T-Mobile has invested significantly into its network and partnerships in recent years, going from a poorly-liked cell phone provider in the US to competing with giants AT&T and Verizon. Airline partnerships have been of particular interest to T-Mobile, which has already partnered with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines to offer its clients free WiFi on flights. Earlier today, American Airlines announced that by next month, 100% of its WiFi-equipped regional and narrowbody aircraft would provide the free package for T-Mobile customers.

Even more exciting than its T-Mobile capability, American announced it would become the first US airline to offer internet capable of video streaming on 100% of its mainline fleet. The airline stated,

"Customers traveling the globe to their dream international destinations should be able to enjoy faster Wi-Fi speeds and a more reliable service for all their connectivity needs thanks to increased bandwidth planned for American's widebody aircraft."

Pricing for its WiFi packages was not mentioned in today's announcement, and as of late, American has some of the most expensive WiFi packages, especially on long-haul flights. Purchasing inflight WiFi on flights to South America can cost $35 for a full-flight package. Additionally, American has yet to roll out free messaging for its passengers, as promised years ago.

Today's announcement focused on how American is elevating the passenger experience this summer, and beyond WiFi, the carrier is making changes to its inflight dining experience. On transcontinental flights with American's Flagship services, passengers now have the option of a new entrée, a Plant-Based Bulgogi Noodle Bowl.

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Passengers flying in premium cabins on international flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport will enjoy dishes from Avli on the Park, a Chicago Greek restaurant that was a 2023 Michelin honoree. Dishes include Greek Beef Orzo Stew and a Kagiana Egg Scramble for breakfast. Domestically, American is adding a Fruit and Cheese Plate and Breakfast Bag, available on flights (1,300 miles or more) between 9:46 a.m. and 9 p.m. and between 5 and 9:45 a.m., respectively.

Earlier this week, American Airlines announced a codeshare agreement with JetSMART. The airlines have been partners since July 2020, and American Airlines was a minority investor in the Chilean ultra-low-cost carrier. Now, the two will codeshare, with the American Airlines code extending to four of JetSMART's destinations in Chile, Santiago (SCL), Antofagasta (ANF), Concepción (CCP), and Puerto Montt (PMC).

Losing LATAM as a partner a few years ago made it essential for American to find another South American partner other than GOL. American has the largest Latin American network of any American carrier and is expanding its presence in the region. Scott Laurence, American Airlines Senior Vice President of Alliance Strategy, said,

"The alliance with JetSMART will enable American to expand its long-haul service between the United States and Latin America, giving access to our flights, our network, and our AAdvantage travel rewards program to more travelers in South America."