Kenya: KQ to Begin Installing Wi-Fi On Long-Haul Flights in 2027

What the report says

Kenya Airways says it plans to start fitting onboard Wi-Fi on its long-haul aircraft from the second quarter of 2027, beginning with planes used on routes such as London, Paris, New York, China and Amsterdam. The announcement was reported by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica on 26 August 2026. Acting Managing Director and CEO George Kamal said the airline will install the systems gradually as aircraft come in for maintenance, rather than upgrading the entire fleet at once.

According to the report, KQ already has one Boeing 777 equipped with Wi-Fi, which the airline says should help lower the initial cost of the rollout. Kamal said the existing aircraft will provide a starting point as the airline begins fitting more planes over time. The carrier has not said when the service will reach shorter routes, but it indicated that expansion beyond the long-haul network is expected later.

The airline said the main obstacle is the high upfront expense of equipping its fleet. Kamal put the cost of installing Wi-Fi across the current fleet at roughly $20 million to $22 million. The move comes as in-flight internet access has become more common globally, with airlines increasingly using it as a service feature to improve the passenger experience. For Kenya Airways, the planned investment signals an effort to remain competitive on international routes while offering travelers connectivity in the air.