Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has operated its first flight fully equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi as part of a pilot launch, marking an important step in the airline’s efforts to elevate the travel experience and providing guests with seamless, high-performance digital connectivity. This initial phase is designed to test the service and gather guest feedback ahead of its commercial rollout, which will follow the completion of regulatory procedures and final quality assurance in the near future.

Following its official launch, the service will be offered free of charge to all guests, reflecting Saudia’s commitment to advancing digital transformation and integrating the latest technologies across the aviation sector. The high-capacity connection delivers stable speeds of up to 300 Mbps, with future upgrades planned to exceed 800 Mbps.

Guests can browse the internet, stream live content, and join virtual meetings on platforms such as Zoom and Teams without interruption. It also supports high-quality streaming from leading entertainment platforms, including Netflix, Shahid, and Amazon Prime, while allowing users to connect multiple devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, and switch between them seamlessly for a smooth, uninterrupted online experience throughout the flight.

His Excellency Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, and His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia, attended the demonstration flight numbered SV1044, which featured the high-speed Wi-Fi service at an altitude of 35,000 feet. During the flight, both officials watched a live broadcast of a Roshn Saudi League match, participated in a television interview with AlArabiya, and conducted a video call with His Excellency Engr. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

His Excellency Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser said:

Inflight internet is no longer a luxury, but an essential service and a strategic enabler within the Kingdom’s aviation and air transport transformation program”. He also urged Saudia to accelerate the implementation to ensure the service is extended across the entire fleet once all necessary procedures are completed.

His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar said,

We take great pride in Saudia’s ongoing journey to redefine the travel experience through innovation and digital excellence. The introduction of our high-speed Wi-Fi marks an important step forward, and the service will soon be available free of charge to all guests onboard, reflecting our commitment to providing a fully connected digital experience that deepens guest loyalty and strengthens Saudia’s position as their preferred airline.”

He added,

To date, 20 aircraft have been equipped with this new service. The rollout will extend across the entire Saudia fleet, including the current aircraft and those scheduled for delivery, and is expected to be completed once all regulatory requirements are finalized.”

This milestone reflects Saudia’s broader transformation journey, which includes substantial investments in modernizing aircraft seats, and upgrading inflight entertainment systems, reaffirming the airline’s commitment to enhancing its services and elevating the overall travel experience for its guests.