Turkish Airlines plans free WiFi for all passengers

Turkish Airlines will join the growing list of airlines unlocking free WiFi for all passengers, from seat 1A in business class to the last row of economy.

Speaking with Executive Traveller in Melbourne following the arrival of the inaugural flight from Istanbul, Turkish Airlines chairman Professor Ahmet Bolat said “in a very short period of time, in one year, we are going to provide free Internet for all passengers.”

Most of the carrier’s inflight Internet service is today handled by Panasonic Avionic and Anuvu.

However, Bolat revealed the airline is currently in a “tender process” to choose a new Internet provider, citing Inmarsat, Elon Muck’s Starlink and the new Turkcell-Sateliot joint venture.

Turkish Airlines currently proves a mix of WiFi offerings depending on where in the plane you’re sitting and what frequent flyer status you hold.

For example, business class passengers with Elite or Elite Plus status in the airline’s Miles&Smiles rewards program enjoy unlimited Internet access, with anybody else in business class seeing a 1GB cap.

Economy passengers receive anywhere from unlimited messaging to 400MB of full Internet access depending on their Miles&Smiles status.

“I'm talking about full free Internet,” Bolat told Executive Traveller, adding it would also be “higher capacity and faster Internet for everybody, a quality product for business class and economy class.”

As previously reported, Bolat also confirmed a May 28 launch of Turkish Airlines’ all-new Crystal business class, which will offer fully private suites with sliding doors across the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350-1000 fleets.

Those ultra-long range A350s will in turn begin non-stop flights from Istanbul to Australia by the end of 2026.