Regional jets don’t always offer the most comfortable in-flight experience, but there’s good news for American Airlines.
Fort Worth-based airlines announced The company announced Thursday that it will equip its vehicles in the region with high-speed Wi-Fi. Specifically, American Airlines will deploy Intelsat satellite connectivity on approximately 500 of its smallest two-class jets.
This new technology allows flyers to connect to streaming speeds on the smallest planes. American Airlines promises low latency internet connections. This means you’ll experience minimal, if any, buffering when watching shows or streaming music during your flight.
American Airlines did not provide a timeline for the rollout of the new high-speed service (beginning with its launch in 2024). American Eagle’s regional affiliate currently operates his two classes of jets: the CRJ-700, CRJ-900, Embraer E170, and Embraer E175. All of this is subject to Wi-Fi upgrades.
Unfortunately, this announcement does not provide internet service, as the CRJ-200 and Embraer E145 currently do not offer Wi-Fi.
American’s existing regional jet Wi-Fi provider, Gogo, is painfully slow and often unreliable. It uses an outdated air-to-ground network that was one of the first mainstream solutions for in-flight connectivity.
daily newsletter
Get rewarded in your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG experts.
This upgrade is definitely big news for travelers flying American Eagle.
American Airlines’ move to partner with Intelsat for regional connectivity comes just weeks after Delta Air Lines announced a similar solution for its Delta Connection jets. The Atlanta-based airline is partnering with Hughes Network Systems to provide faster, more reliable Wi-Fi on its 400 Boeing 717 and regional jets operating in North America.
All of this enhanced connectivity comes as America’s largest airlines race to offer in-flight experiences that mimic living rooms. Delta and United are both committed to providing seatback televisions on all jets, as well as high-speed Wi-Fi on all planes.
Meanwhile, American Airlines has eliminated entertainment systems on almost its entire domestic fleet, but it does offer streaming-enabled Wi-Fi on all of its trunk jets.
While there is industry pressure to make Wi-Fi access cheaper (or free, like JetBlue and Delta Air Lines), American Airlines continues to charge more for Internet access than its major competitors. I am.
Case in point: A few weeks ago, a full flight pass for my trip from Los Angeles to New York went for $29. If I had flown on his JetBlue (or some of Delta’s planes), the Wi-Fi would have been free. If you choose United Airlines instead, you’ll pay a much more modest $8.
As American’s Wi-Fi gets faster, we hope to eventually have free Wi-Fi in all of our vehicles.