Staying connected while flying is becoming an essential part of the travel experience for many passengers and another airline is taking note. Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance member, has recently joined the growing list of airlines offering some level of complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi, enhancing its onboard passenger experience.

Turkish Airlines’ In-Flight Wi-Fi Offerings

Turkish Airlines is now offering what it terms “free and limitless” in-flight messaging to all passengers on international flights aboard Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft. Premium passengers and elite members of the airline’s Miles&Smiles loyalty program receive additional internet access.

To access the service, passengers must be members of Miels&Smiles or sign-up for membership (free) during the flight.

The airline specifically notes that the service will work with WhatsApp, Messenger, and iMessage “along with others”. While the airline is terming the offering “free and limitless,” it’s not clear what other services the offering will work with and whether it will only extend to text messaging or if it’ll be possible to send photos, videos, and other content through the service.

While every passenger will have access to Turkish Airlines’ free in-flight messaging offering, passengers in business class and elite members of its Miles&Smiles frequent flyer program will receive additional free Wi-Fi according to the chart below:

Here’s what Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi had to say about the offering:

“We are adding another innovative development to the countless improvements we made for Türkiye’s aviation sector as the national flag carrier. By combining our innovative approach with customer satisfaction, we are ensuring our passengers will be able to freely message their loved ones above clouds, staying in contact with them without any limits.”

Check out the video released by Turkish Airlines promoting the new offering below:

A Growing Trend

The inclusion of Turkish Airlines in the list of airlines offering free in-flight Wi-Fi is part of a broader trend in the aviation industry. Major airlines like JetBlue, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, among others, offer various levels of free Wi-Fi access, especially to premium passengers. Delta Air Lines recently began offering free Wi-Fi to all passengers on its domestic flights.

As free in-flight Wi-Fi becomes more ubiquitous in the industry and increasingly at competitive speeds, it’ll only become more of an expectation from passengers in today’s hyper-connected world. With every airline adding the offering, carriers that fail to keep up risk being viewed as anachronistic by passengers.

On the flip side, airlines that lead the way in offering free in-flight Wi-Fi at high speeds enhance their paxex while differentiating themselves in a highly competitive market.

Bottom Line

Turkish Airlines is the latest airline to introduce free in-flight messaging for all passengers on international flights aboard Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft. The service works with WhatsApp, Messenger, and iMessage, among others. Business class passengers and elite members of the airline’s Miles&Smiles loyalty program receive additional internet access.

The move reflects the growing demand for connectivity during air travel and follows the trend of other major airlines offering free in-flight Wi-Fi. While the quality and availability of these services may differ, the overall trend toward in-flight connectivity is clear, and airlines are adapting to meet the evolving needs of their passengers.