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In the age of remote work, passengers often need in-flight connectivity to get their work done. Many U.S. airlines offer Wi-Fi for free or for a charge on larger jets, but some regional jets aren’t equipped with high-speed service.
However, Alaska Airlines has announced plans to outfit its regional jets with high-speed Wi-Fi over the next 2 years.
Here’s what you need to know!
Alaska Airlines says it plans to roll out Wi-Fi across its Embraer 175 regional jets in the coming years. The airline is partnering with Intelsat, a satellite services provider, to become the first major airline to announce plans for satellite Wi-Fi on a regional aircraft.
Alaska says passengers can connect from the ground during boarding, which differs from some airlines that offer Wi-Fi service after reaching 10,000 feet.
The system will roll out on Horizon Air in early 2024 and be deployed on regional jets, including SkyWest, over the course of 2 years. Alaska says its entire fleet will have consistent high-speed connectivity by 2026.
Last year, Alaska announced that it would offer Wi-Fi for just $8 on most of its flights.
“Bringing a streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi solution to our regional jets is another key investment in modernizing our fleet, emphasizing innovation and taking care of our guests’ changing needs,” Sangita Woerner, senior vice president of marketing and guest experience at Alaska, said in a statement.
Alaska uses its E175 jets — which seat 76 passengers — on short-haul to mid-range flights. You’ll find E175 jets on routes such as Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) and Las Vegas (LAS) to Los Angeles (LAX). The airline in July announced that it would order 8 new E175 jets, with options for an additional 13. The jets will be delivered to Alaska over the next 4 years, beginning in the second quarter of 2023.
The Seattle-based carrier isn’t the only airline to announce Wi-Fi news lately.
Delta Air Lines will be the first legacy U.S. airline to offer free inflight Wi-Fi for passengers, beginning on ViaSat-equipped flights starting February 1, 2023. Passengers need to have or create a Delta SkyMiles account to use the Wi-Fi.
Hot Tip: Check out our guide to airplane Wi-Fi before your next flight!
Airplane Wi-Fi can be unreliable, especially on short-haul flights on regional jets. However, Alaska’s plans for high-speed Wi-Fi across its E175 fleet is fantastic news for travelers who can stay connected from boarding to landing.
