Stay Connected in the Skies: Singapore Airlines Launches Unlimited WiFi Access

Beginning on 1st July Singapore Airlines will be one of the first significant international airlines in the world to provide free, limitless WiFi to all passengers in every class. Anyone who is a member of the airline’s frequent flyer programme or signs up to be one is eligible for the deal.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will offer free, limitless WiFi to every customer in every travel class starting on 1st July 2023, making it one of the first major airlines in the world to do so. The new upgraded WiFi service would reportedly be offered on nearly all of the airline’s fleet of aircraft and nearly the entire worldwide SIA route network, according to the company.

With the roll-out, passengers in every cabin class, from first to economy, will be able to connect with loved ones, work online, stay up to speed on the latest news, or update their social media feeds no matter where they are.

Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Singapore Airlines, Mr. Yeoh Phee Teik, declared the new offering, “In today’s increasingly hyper-connected world, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity is one of the most important requirements for our customers. Giving them access to free unlimited Wi-Fi is yet another milestone in SIA’s continuous effort to offer an exceptional end-to-end travel experience. With this enhanced offering, our customers will be empowered to stay connected, entertained, and productive, even at 36,000 feet in the sky.”

Anyone flying with the airline starting in July will appreciate the free WiFi rollout for all. Additionally, SIA is being astute by increasing participation in its renowned KrisFlyer frequent flyer loyalty programme.

Customers of SIA must submit their KrisFlyer membership information at the time of booking via the Manage Booking online option or when they check in at their point of departure in order to take use of the new complimentary WiFi service aboard.

Anyone flying with the airline starting in July will appreciate the free WiFi rollout for all. Additionally, SIA is being astute by increasing participation in its renowned KrisFlyer frequent flyer loyalty programme.

Customers of SIA must submit their KrisFlyer membership information at the time of booking via the Manage Booking online option or when they check in at their point of departure in order to take use of the new complimentary WiFi service aboard.

In order to use the free in-flight WiFi, those who are not already KrisFlyer members can sign up for a free membership online or while on a flight using the SIA digital content portal on their personal mobile devices.

The airline already offers free, unrestricted in-flight WiFi to passengers flying in Suites, first class, and business class cabins. Additionally, beginning February 2023, KrisFlyer members flying in economy and premium economy have been entitled to complimentary two- and three-hour limited WiFi surf plans, respectively.

The seven Boeing 737-800s that the airline is still using will not be included in the roll-out; instead, it will apply to the whole SIA fleet. These planes are used to go to places like Phuket (HKT), Penang (PEN), and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on some of the airline’s shortest itineraries.

SIA flying high

This most recent improvement to the passenger experience onboard comes just after SIA announced record yearly profits, the biggest in the company’s 76-year history.

After suffering losses for the previous three years, the carrier made S$2.16 billion (US$1.63 billion) in profits for the fiscal year that ended on 31st March. As limitations were loosened domestically in April of last year and most recently in China, there was a huge pent-up demand for air travel, which contributed to the record-breaking results.

In the last year, SIA and Scoot, its low-cost airline, carried 26.5 million passengers, a sixfold increase from the previous year. The group’s passenger load factor increased by 55.3 points to 85.4%, which is the greatest value ever recorded. Individually, Scoot delivered a PLF of 83.9%, while SIA scored a record PLF of 85.8%.

In March, the group’s passenger capacity surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels by 79%, exceeding the 58% average for the Asia-Pacific region. In the first half of the current fiscal year, it is predicted to average around 83% of pre-Covid-19 levels.

The modifications to the onboard WiFi service coming in July will undoubtedly be well-received by passengers flying with SIA in the upcoming months. The airline expects that the innovation will continue to positively impact its bottom line as demand for air travel in the Asia-Pacific region continues to climb, even if it necessitates joining the carrier’s loyalty programme.

If other international carriers follow SIA’s example and make their onboard WiFi accessible for free in due course, it will be interesting to see how that develops. Free WiFi has been available on domestic flights since February, according to a recent announcement by Delta Air Lines. Until 2024, free WiFi will not be guaranteed on all of Delta’s foreign flights, though.