Emirates has brought back free onboard WiFi connectivity for all passengers, in some form or another, after cutting complimentary internet access at the height of the pandemic.
The new complimentary service relies on passengers signing up for Emirates’ Skywards frequent flyer programme, and the level of connectivity is based on membership tier, as well as which cabin class passengers are travelling in.
The majority of passengers will have complimentary access to internet-based messaging services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and iMessage, while First Class and elite Skywards members will get full internet access.
Emirates used to boast that it viewed providing free onboard WiFi as a necessary cost base to improve the passenger experience but at the start of the pandemic in early 2020, the airline quickly disconnected free inflight internet services to save costs.
For the same reason, the Dubai-based carrier cut live inflight TV at the same time, but while live TV services were switched back on in June 2021, free internet access didn’t make a return.
Before the pandemic, Emirates offered 20MB of complimentary data per device, but that meagre offering has now been replaced with new tiers, as follows:
| Skywards Tier | Class of Travel | WiFi Access |
|---|---|---|
| Skywards Blue | Economy Premium Economy Business | Free unlimited chat |
| Skywards Silver Skywards Gold | Premium Economy Business | Free unlimited chat |
| Skywards Blue | First Class | Free WiFi for duration of flight |
| Skywards Silver Skywards Gold | Business Class First Class | Free WiFi for duration of flight |
| Skywards Platinum | Economy Premium Economy Business First Class | Free WiFi for duration of flight |
Passengers who haven’t signed up for Skywards will be charged between $2.99 and $5.99 for unlimited chat services, although it’s free to sign up for Skywards, so becoming a member of Emirates’ frequent flyer programme would make the most sense.
Full-flight internet plans cost between $9.99 and $19.99, dependent on the length of the flight. In some regions, Emirates also offers a 30-minute package of $9.99.
Since free WiFi connectivity was introduced, Emirates has seen a 30% increase in passengers accessing inflight internet, with around 450,000 users per month. Passengers on flights to and from the Americas are the most likely to access inflight WiFi, with around 20% of passengers connecting to onboard internet services.
In contrast, just 11% of passengers on European and African flights are currently making use of Emirates’ inflight internet services.
Last week, Emirates posted a record $3 billion profit for 2022/23 on the back of revenues of 19.8 billion Dirhams (US$ 32.6 billion). Group chairman and chief executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum boasted that the airline had made a “full recovery” on the back of a surge in travel demand.
