Kenya Airways expects to roll out free Wi-Fi on board all its long-haul flights from Q2 of 2027, Acting CEO George Kamala has revealed.
Speaking in an interview after the Half Year 2026 results in Nairobi, Kamal said Wi-Fi has already been installed on the Boeing 777-300ER, the national carrier’s biggest aircraft.
However, the service is awaiting a slot with an internet carrier before KQ operationalises the service on the plane currently serving the Nairobi-London route.
“I want Wi-Fi on every flight. And I want it to be free for customers to enjoy…The Boeing 777 is already equipped but is awaiting a slot to begin offering the service,” Kamal said.
Acting Kenya Airways CEO George Kamal during an investor briefing at KQ Headquarters, August 25, 2026.
Photo
KQ
The latest revelation comes after the airline’s management announced plans to introduce onboard internet Wi-Fi specifically for the Nairobi-London route in March.
According to Kamal, the introduction of the service will allow the national carrier to continue competing for regional dominance with the country’s neighbours to the north.
Kenya Airways currently operates long-haul flights to New York, Guangzhou and Paris alongside London.
“At least for the first year we want to have Wi-Fi free. To manage this, we target commercialising in-flight entertainment to offset these costs,” Kamal explained.
In-flight Wi-Fi helps passengers stay connected with work, family, and entertainment at 35,000 feet, turning previously unproductive flight hours into highly functional time.
The CEO explained that the service has long been in the plans of the airline, with customers asking for the now essential connectivity for flights over seven hours.
The airline said it has managed to secure agreements with partners to skip the one-year wait to install the internet service on its planes.
If Kenya Airways succeeds in installing the service on its fleet, it will be the second airline with the service in East Africa, behind RwandAir.
Only five airlines in Africa have the service, with many increasing the number of aircraft with the service that has grown in demand over the last decade.
A Kenya Airways plane makes a flyby at the 2023 Magical Kenya Open (MKO) golf tournament at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, March 2023.
Photo
Japhet Kaimenyi
