China Eastern Airlines' flight MU745, the first direct air route between China and Argentina, passes through a water gate at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dec. 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

China Eastern Airlines announced on Thursday that, starting rom Friday, in-flight Wi-Fi access will be completely free on all wide-body aircraft operated by China Eastern and its subsidiary Shanghai Airlines.

Following the upgrade, China Eastern's free wide-body Wi-Fi service will be extended to its global routes covering the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Going forward, on all China Eastern flights operated by wide-body aircraft—regardless of route length, flight region, or cabin class—passengers will be able to enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi service.

Guo Tao, who works in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, told the Global Times that because he handles some cross-border business and travels frequently home and abroad, he relies heavily on in-flight Wi-Fi. 

When booking flights, he always prioritizes airlines that offer Wi-Fi access. During flights, he makes full use of his time in the air to send and receive emails, handle OA approvals, and communicate in real time with overseas teams about project progress. If clients have urgent needs, he can respond immediately.

Guo also mentioned that with in-flight Wi-Fi, he can confirm pickup arrangements before landing. This "always-connected" service significantly improves work efficiency for business travelers.

As early as August 2023, China Eastern Airlines took the lead in achieving full-flight Wi-Fi availability, including during take-off and landings, making it the first domestic airliner to offer "in-flight Wi-Fi" service below an altitude of 3,000 meters. Starting in August 2025, China Eastern expanded free Wi-Fi service on domestic "Air Express" routes from first-class and business-class cabins to premium economy and select economy-class seats, further enhancing the accessibility and inclusiveness of in-flight connectivity services. 

The benefits of offering free Wi-Fi on international routes are notable. According to a report by the Beijing Business Today, during the 2024 pilot phase of free Wi-Fi on China Eastern's international routes, the airline saw a 40-percent month-on-month increase in new flyer members.

Guo Jia, a veteran market watcher told the Global Times that on long-haul international routes, the cost of being disconnected is a major pain point for business travelers and high-value leisure travelers. Free high-speed internet access will directly change passengers' airline selection logic.

United Airlines said in June of 2026 that since launching Starlink Wi-Fi last spring, the airline has flown more than 18.6 million passengers on Starlink-equipped planes across more than 311,000 flights, powering 9.9 million devices - and Wi-Fi customer satisfaction scores on those planes nearly doubled.

Guo said that for China Eastern, long-haul international flights face direct competition from major Middle Eastern and US carriers, which have made free connectivity a default offering. By offering free Wi-Fi access, China Eastern is essentially bringing its international passenger offerings up to par with its rivals. This avoids a service gap on shared routes where competitors provide free internet access while its passengers would otherwise have to pay.

On Air China's app, the airline currently offers internet service on its A350 aircraft. Passengers who connect successfully can chat in real time with family and friends on the ground, as well as browse the web, send and receive emails, and handle online tasks.

China Southern Airlines' official website shows that first-class and business-class passengers can experience in-flight internet service without applying. While economy class passengers need to redeem access with miles or purchase it directly.

The international market has gone through a complete cycle of upgrades: Delta Air Lines announced free Wi-Fi in 2023, followed by United Airlines' leap forward with Starlink, Air Canada becoming the first North American carrier to commit to free Wi-Fi across its entire fleet, and Air France and Lufthansa also equipping their fleets with Starlink, according to the Beijing Business Today.


Global Times