Air Canada Delivers a Virtually Flawless Wi-Fi Experience on Its E175 Fleet

Inflight Wi-Fi has evolved from an optional amenity into an important part of the passenger experience. Travellers increasingly expect to remain connected in the air with the same ease and reliability they experience on the ground.

For regional airlines, meeting these expectations can present several challenges:

• Delivering consistent performance throughout the journey 
• Supporting work, streaming and social-media use simultaneously 
• Providing a simple connection and authentication process 
• Maintaining performance around busy aviation hubs 
• Equipping regional aircraft without compromising operational requirements 

Legacy air-to-ground services may struggle to provide the speed, coverage and flexibility required by today’s connected passengers.

The Need: A Fast and Frictionless Digital Experience

Air Canada needed an inflight connectivity solution capable of supporting modern passenger behaviour across its regional fleet.

The service needed to provide:

• Fast access to the onboard Wi-Fi portal 
• Reliable connectivity from boarding through arrival 
• Sufficient performance for browsing, work and entertainment 
• A simple experience for loyalty members and paying passengers 
• Consistent service across different network conditions 

The airline also required a solution that could combine complementary satellite capabilities to deliver an optimised experience across the route.

The Solution: Multi-Orbit Inflight Connectivity

All 25 of Air Canada’s Jazz Aviation-operated E175 aircraft are now equipped with SES’s electronically steerable antenna-based inflight connectivity solution.

The system uses Gilat Satellite Networks’ Sidewinder antenna hardware and combines:

• Eutelsat OneWeb’s Ku-band LEO connectivity, supporting low-latency, high-speed applications 
• SES’s GEO satellite services, providing complementary capacity for high-density demand 
• Quvia’s Quality of Experience platform, giving Air Canada real-time visibility into the performance of its connected fleet 

This multi-orbit architecture is designed to draw on the respective strengths of LEO and GEO connectivity. Eutelsat’s commercial aviation solutions are delivered through an ecosystem of specialist partners, enabling airlines to select an approach aligned with their fleets, routes and business models.

“The Internet was fast and snappy, and I remained connected for the duration of the flight.”

Mary Kirby
Founder and Editor, Runway Girl Network

The Impact: Connectivity That Changes the Passenger Experience

During the Washington Dulles–Montréal return journey, the reviewer found the “AC Wi-Fi” network immediately available after boarding. Following payment, she was connected within seconds and used the service as she would at home—for work, streaming and social media.

The independent test highlighted several passenger benefits:

• A fast and straightforward connection process 
• Stable connectivity throughout the flight 
• Performance suitable for everyday online activities 
• Automatic recognition of complimentary access in business class 
• A journey that felt shorter and more productive 

Kirby described the overall Wi-Fi experience as “virtually flawless”, demonstrating how reliable connectivity can influence passengers’ perception of the complete journey.

“The two-hour flight time between Montréal and Washington Dulles is hardly a labor, but when you have a good Wi-Fi connection, it feels like time moves even faster.”

Mary Kirby
Founder and Editor, Runway Girl Network

The experience reflects a broader transformation in commercial aviation. With more than 700 aircraft already flying with Eutelsat OneWeb LEO connectivity, airlines can use high-performance inflight connectivity to strengthen passenger satisfaction and support increasingly connected operations. (Eutelsat aviation insight)

Elevate the Passenger Experience

Discover how Eutelsat’s flexible GEO, LEO and multi-orbit connectivity can help airlines provide reliable, high-performance inflight services across their fleets.

Explore Eutelsat’s aviation connectivity solutions or contact our aviation experts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Air Canada’s E175 inflight Wi-Fi work?

Air Canada’s Jazz Aviation-operated E175s use SES’s electronically steerable antenna-based connectivity system. It combines Eutelsat OneWeb Ku-band LEO connectivity with SES GEO satellite services. The architecture draws on LEO’s responsiveness and GEO’s complementary capacity to support a consistent passenger experience.

What can passengers do with the inflight connection?

During Runway Girl Network’s independent test, the connection supported work, streaming, web browsing and social-media use. The reviewer reported remaining connected throughout the flight and described the Internet experience as fast and responsive.

Is Air Canada’s inflight Wi-Fi free?

According to the source article, Air Canada offers Bell-sponsored Wi-Fi to eligible Aeroplan loyalty members. Access was also available to eligible United MileagePlus members and business-class passengers. Other passengers could purchase access through the onboard portal. Eligibility and pricing may vartry and should be checked directly with Air Canada.

Why combine LEO and GEO satellites for aviation connectivity?

LEO satellites can support low-latency, high-speed services, while GEO satellites provide complementary coverage and capacity. A multi-orbit architecture allows a service provider to use these capabilities together according to route conditions, network demand and airline requirements.

Why is inflight connectivity important for regional airlines?

Passengers expect to remain productive, entertained and connected regardless of aircraft or journey length. Reliable Wi-Fi can therefore help regional airlines improve the passenger experience, strengthen loyalty propositions and offer greater consistency across their wider fleets.