Kenya Airways to introduce onboard Wi-Fi in 2027

Passengers flying Kenya Airways (KQ) on some of the airline’s longest routes could soon have one less reason to switch off completely once the aircraft takes off.

The national carrier plans to start fitting its aircraft with onboard Wi-Fi from the second quarter of 2027, beginning with long-haul planes before moving to smaller aircraft.

The project is part of a wider effort by Kenya Airways to improve its service as airlines increasingly make internet access part of the flying experience.

Acting Group Managing Director and CEO George Kamal said the installation would not happen across the fleet at once. Instead, aircraft will be fitted with the equipment as they enter the hangar for maintenance.

“From Q2 2027, one aircraft, every aircraft comes into the hangar, we start installing one by one,” Kamal said.

The first aircraft targeted will be those serving London, Paris, New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, China and Amsterdam.

Kamal said the airline would then move to aircraft serving shorter routes, including flights of up to about five hours, before eventually extending the service to the smaller aircraft in the fleet.

KQ faces a costly upgrade

While passengers may see Wi-Fi as a simple addition to their journey, Kenya Airways says putting the technology on its aircraft is a major investment.

Kamal estimated that installing Wi-Fi across the current fleet would cost between $20 million and $22 million, which is roughly Ksh2.6 billion to Ksh2.9 billion depending on the exchange rate. The figure covers the installation, with the airline also expected to incur recurring payments for internet connectivity once the systems are operational.

“It costs us for our fleet; the current fleet is about $20 million to $22 million to install Wi-Fi onboard,” Kamal said.

The airline is also looking for newer, faster technology rather than installing a system that could quickly become outdated. Kamal said Kenya Airways wants high-speed connectivity and does not want to put old technology on its aircraft.

The rollout has therefore taken time, partly because securing installation slots with technology providers can take many months. According to Kamal, some providers had indicated waiting periods of about 18 months, prompting the airline to work with partners to secure an earlier installation window.

Kenya Airways already has a head start with one Boeing 777 aircraft. The plane is fitted with Wi-Fi equipment, meaning the airline will not have to undertake the full installation process on that aircraft.

“This process can take time, but at least we will be starting. We have one aircraft which is equipped, the Triple 7 is equipped, we are ready, so the cost of the Triple 7 is lower,” Kamal said.

The Boeing 777-300ER returned to Kenya Airways service in July 2026 after spending years on lease to Turkish Airlines. It has since been deployed on the Nairobi-London route, one of the carrier’s key international services.

The planned Wi-Fi rollout comes as Kenya Airways works to improve its financial position and rebuild its fleet. The airline recorded a Ksh16.1 billion net loss in the first half of 2026, even as revenue rose by 9 percent to Ksh81.2 billion.

Despite the cost, management sees better onboard connectivity as an important part of keeping the airline competitive.

Kamal has also indicated that his preference is for passengers to eventually use the service without paying an additional fee, although the final commercial arrangement has not been fully detailed.

If implemented, the plan would give passengers on some of KQ’s longest flights the ability to remain connected while travelling, whether for work, communication or other online activities.

For the airline, however, the challenge will be completing the upgrade while managing the considerable cost of installing and maintaining the systems across its fleet.