Kenya Airways plans to introduce free Wi-Fi on all its long-haul flights from the second quarter of 2027, Acting Chief Executive Officer George Kamala has said.
Kamala spoke in Nairobi after the airline released its half-year 2026 financial results, saying Kenya Airways has already installed Wi-Fi equipment on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The aircraft, the airline's largest, currently operates the Nairobi-London route. However, passengers cannot yet access the service as Kenya Airways is waiting for a connection slot from an internet provider.
Once the connection is secured, the airline will begin offering Wi-Fi on its London flights.
“I want Wi-Fi on every flight, and I want it to be free for customers to enjoy,” Kamala said, adding that the Boeing 777 is ready to provide the service once the connection is activated.
Kenya Airways had earlier announced plans to introduce onboard Wi-Fi on the Nairobi-London route in March.
Kamala said the move is aimed at keeping the airline competitive with other carriers in the region.
Kenya Airways operates long-haul flights from Nairobi to New York, Guangzhou, Paris and London, with the airline planning to extend Wi-Fi services to these routes.
Kamala said the airline hopes to offer the service free of charge for at least the first year. To offset the cost, Kenya Airways plans to generate revenue by commercialising its in-flight entertainment systems.
Free Wi-Fi would allow passengers to work, chat with family and friends, browse the internet and access entertainment while travelling.
The service would be particularly useful on flights lasting more than seven hours, when passengers may want to remain connected.
Kenya Airways said customers have been requesting onboard internet for years.
If implemented as planned, Kenya Airways will become the second airline in East Africa to offer onboard Wi-Fi after RwandAir.
Across Africa, only a handful of airlines currently provide onboard Wi-Fi, although demand for the service continues to grow.