Emirates: All passengers can now avail of free Wi-Fi onboard

Emirates has announced that all passengers in every class of travel can now enjoy “some form” of free Wi-Fi connectivity once they sign up to Emirates Skywards as the Dubai-based carrier counties to enhance its inflight connectivity.

The development has resulted in an additional 30,000 economy class passengers connecting to complimentary onboard Wi-Fi every week.

Emirates said it has constantly enhanced its inflight Wi-Fi connectivity and the carrier has so far invested more than $300m into onboard connectivity.

“Emirates has persistently worked with our service providers to optimise and improve the connectivity experience. In March we delivered about 55 per cent more data per customer session compared to early 2022 despite the number of sessions increasing by 68 per cent in the same period,” said Patrick Brannelly, the company’s svp Retail, IFE & Connectivity.

The airline said all Emirates Skywards members in every class of travel can now enjoy some form of free connectivity. “Skywards members, whether Blue, Silver, Gold, or Platinum tier, travelling in any class, whether economy, premium economy, business or first class will enjoy free app messaging,” Emirates said in a statement.

First Class passengers will have unlimited free internet if they are Skywards members, enabling them to shop or work online while in flight, as will Silver, Gold and Platinum Skywards members travelling in Business Class. Platinum Skywards members have complimentary internet access in all classes.

All Emirates passengers can now avail of free Wi-Fi connectivity onboard, just join Emirates Skywards, even while inflight. https://t.co/lyYezQVI2P pic.twitter.com/uiNKiI1PfP

— Emirates (@emirates) May 19, 2023

The increase in free Wi-Fi connectivity has been very well received by Emirates’ passengers following changes in January 2023 and the airline today sees an average of 450,000 users per month, a 30 per cent increase in passenger use in 2023 compared to the same period last year.

Emirates enhances CX

Emirates said that it will offer new high-speed, inflight broadband powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation, onboard 50 new Airbus A350 aircraft – scheduled to enter service in 2024.

The new agreement with Inmarsat is expected to significantly improve the passenger experience with enhanced connectivity and greater global coverage, even on flights over the Arctic.

The Airbus A350s will be the first Emirates aircraft to leverage Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, which powers the world’s first and only globally available broadband network, ensuring passengers can enjoy uninterrupted global connectivity.

The advanced high-speed capabilities of the broadband will enable Emirates passengers to stay connected with family and friends, browse the internet, and enjoy social media, all from the comfort of their seats.

“We will continue to work to invest in upgrades and enhancements, and our A350 aircraft will arrive with the next generation of satellite connectivity already equipped,” said

The airline Emirates is also investing more than $350m to equip 50 Airbus A350s with enhanced passenger connectivity via Thales’ AVANT Up system and Optiq – the first smart display in the industry to offer two Bluetooth connections, built-in wifi for passengers to pair multiple devices including smartphones, tablets and headsets.

Passengers simply need to join Emirates Skywards – an easy and complimentary process, to access free Wi-Fi.

Emirates, which opened a new city check-in and travel store in the Dubai International Financial Centre in April, is now requiring most passengers departing Dubai to use a mobile boarding pass instead of a printed paper version.

The carrier also expanded its interline cooperation with Abu Dhabi’s Etihad earlier in May to boost tourism to the UAE from key source markets by allowing customers to experience more than one destination in a single itinerary.

Read: Travel to UAE on a single booking: Emirates, Etihad Airways strengthen cooperation