Vistara is introducing 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi on its international flights operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A321neo aircraft, making it the first Indian airline to offer this service. The announcement was made on Saturday by the TATA-Singapore Airlines joint venture.
Passengers in all cabins will have access to 20 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi, which is perfect for those who wish to use Indian credit or debit cards to buy extended Wi-Fi plans. This service also allows users to receive one-time passwords via email, facilitating the purchase of additional in-flight Wi-Fi during the active session.
Deepak Rajawat, Vistara’s Chief Commercial Officer, expressed the airline’s excitement, stating, “We are delighted to lead the way and become the first Indian airline to offer complimentary Wi-Fi on international flights across all cabins.” He added, “We are confident that customers will appreciate this value addition that aims to make their Vistara journey more convenient, productive, and seamless.”
Vistara’s Wi-Fi plan includes:
Complimentary Chat: Available to all Club Vistara members of any tier, in any cabin, throughout the flight.
Paid Chat: Rs. 372.74 plus GST for chatting on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger with unlimited data.
Paid Surf: Rs. 1,577.54 plus GST for internet browsing with unlimited data, including embedded audio and video streaming.
Paid Stream: Rs. 2,707.04 plus GST for unlimited data allowing all streaming protocols.
The Wi-Fi service on Vistara’s international flights, powered by Panasonic Avionics, offers seamless internet access at 35,000 feet, allowing passengers to stay connected, check emails, and use social media with ease.
While many airlines have been providing Wi-Fi for over a decade, Vistara’s initiative stands out. In contrast, budget carrier JetBlue has offered free, unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi since 2013. Other international carriers like Philippines Airlines, Norwegian Airlines, and Air New Zealand offer free Wi-Fi but often with data limits, while airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines provide free Wi-Fi to frequent flyer members, with certain conditions for economy class passengers. Vistara’s parent, Singapore Airlines, also offers complimentary Wi-Fi to its KrisFlyer loyalty program members.