For many passengers, the topic is a minor detail. Quite a few even appreciate «digital detox» above the clouds.

Nevertheless: «Free high-speed WiFi now available on Air France flights» – with this announcement, the French carrier Air France made headlines on Tuesday.

Air France Partners With Elon Musk

Passengers on selected aircraft can «enjoy a free, high-quality Internet connection that is stable, fast, and secure.» This is made possible through a partnership with Elon Musk’s satellite provider Starlink.

The technology is already in operation on two new Embraer 190s, two Airbus A220s, and one Airbus A350 – covering both short- and long-haul routes.

Fleetwide by the End of 2026

By the end of 2025, Air France aims to retrofit 30 percent of its fleet, and by the end of 2026, the entire fleet. The service is free of charge in all travel classes, accessible via the Flying Blue frequent flyer program.

According to the airline, passengers can «stream TV shows, movies, and series and even play multiplayer video games.»

Swiss Lags Behind

The situation is quite different at Lufthansa’s Swiss subsidiary: Swiss International Airlines confirmed to finews.com that while its short- and medium-haul fleet is equipped with onboard Internet, the service is «currently not yet comprehensive.»

There is a free messaging service, but passengers must pay for streaming or working with laptops and tablets.

Long-Haul Only at Extra Cost

Swiss points out that it has been «equipped with Internet since 2016.» Since 2023, the service has been available on all long-haul flights – but only as a «free Internet connection for chat apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Signal.»

For all other functions, «additional costs» apply. This leaves the Swiss airline far behind its French rival, which aggressively promotes its free offering as a premium service.

Lufthansa Pulls Strings in Frankfurt

Just a few days ago, Lufthansa announced plans to increasingly centralize certain business functions of its Swiss subsidiary in Frankfurt.

What this will mean for the future quality of Swiss remains unclear. The WiFi issue may not be at the core of the service offering, but it highlights a frequently voiced criticism: Swiss often delivers low-cost quality at premium prices.