American Airlines will offer free WiFi at every seat on its regional aircraft by early 2026, according to an announcement. The initiative is part of an overall “refreshing” of the equipment. American says it operates the largest regional fleet of any US carrier.
American currently has high-speed gate-to-gate satellite WiFi on nearly 300 regional aircraft, which will expand to the full dual-class regional fleet by early next year as it introduces complimentary WiFi for AAdvantage members in January.
Heather Garboden, chief customer officer, said, “Our customers value staying connected in the air, even on a relatively short flight.” She added, “We’ve been working diligently to ensure our regional fleet offers the best and most reliable high-speed connectivity, especially as we look ahead to free WiFi in 2026.”
When customers step on board the newly delivered Embraer 175 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, said the announcement, they’ll notice the difference immediately. The clean, modern cabin design features updated seat coverings that mirror the look and feel of the mainline fleet, said the announcement, because consistency matters when customers are on the move. In addition to the refreshed look, the aircraft include in-seat power so customers can keep their phones, tablets or laptops charged and ready from takeoff to landing.
American plans to roll out the new regional interior by retrofitting all the CRJ700, CRJ900, E170 and E175 aircraft operated by its regional carriers. The aircraft retrofits are expected to be completed over the coming years.
American has also streamlined its onboard snack offerings to create a more consistent experience across both mainline and regional flights. Customers in the premium cabin on regional flights can now enjoy a midday snack basket to complement the morning and evening snack baskets, ensuring uniform service throughout the network.
For customers who prefer to travel with a carry-on suitcase, American is working with Embraer on developing and designing larger overhead bins for larger regional aircraft. The airline anticipates rolling out the aircraft with larger overhead bins in the coming years, creating more room for bags and making boarding smoother.
