Airlines are accelerating investment in technology to provide Internet in the sky to attract passengers - Photo: CONG TRUNG
How does the Internet access price of Vietnamese airlines compare to many international airlines?
Surf the web and make video calls while flying
Speaking with Tuoi Tre, Mr. Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines , said that after the A350 fleet, the airline will expand WiFi service to other wide-body aircraft, then narrow-body, depending on technical conditions and market demand.
After nearly two months of piloting the In-flight Connectivity (IFC) service from early August 2025 until now, according to Mr. Tuan, most passengers appreciate the experience of Internet connection during the flight.
This Internet service is also completely different from the W-IFE (wireless in-flight entertainment) system on the airline's Airbus A321 aircraft, which is only used to view available entertainment programs and does not connect to the Internet.
According to records, in the initial implementation phase, Vietnam Airlines applied a free unlimited web browsing package promotion for business class customers, and also gave 15 minutes of free messaging on popular applications such as Zalo, Viber, WhatsApp,... for all passengers on domestic and international flights until December 2025.
However, the number of A350 aircraft piloting WiFi is still small compared to the airline's fleet of 102 aircraft including: B787, A320, A321...
On international routes, Vietnam Airlines offers three data packages for passengers to choose from depending on their usage needs.
Unlimited texting throughout the flight costs $5, one-hour web surfing costs $10, and unlimited access throughout the entire flight costs $20.
Competition for in-flight internet access in Vietnam is heating up. Although it has not announced a specific time for deploying WiFi, Vietjet, owned by billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, has proactively prepared its infrastructure and cooperated with satellite service providers.
In early 2025, during a business trip to the US, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and Vietjet Air leaders met with dozens of international partners, including SpaceX, the world's leading corporation in spacecraft, satellite launch and communications.
Vietjet is currently in talks with billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX and several other in-flight internet technology providers to support its plan to equip its fleet of hundreds of aircraft with WiFi.
According to passenger experience, the WiFi network on Vietnam Airlines planes is suitable for surfing the web, social networks, checking and sending emails, not suitable for watching videos or livestreaming because the speed depends on the number of simultaneous users.
However, many passengers seem to enjoy the new experience. Ms. Thanh Huyen (Duc Nhuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said that before, when the plane took off, there would be "no news" for 1-2 hours when traveling domestically or 6-9 hours when traveling internationally. When the airline deployed WiFi, she tried choosing the $5 texting package, texting for work, and the flight felt much shorter.
Compare WiFi prices between brands
Many people think that the price of WiFi on Vietnam Airlines planes is quite high, what is the reality?
Cathay Pacific charges $19.95 - $24.95 for an unlimited package, Emirates from $9.99 - $19.99, Etihad and Lufthansa between 10 - 25 euros.
Some airlines like Thai Airways charge by data usage (30MB for $9.99, unlimited plan $59.99), which has caused many passengers to complain. Japan Airlines will only waive the fee for first class from October 2024, while Emirates or United Airlines still charge $5.99 - $19.99 depending on the package and duration.
Overall, with around $20 for unlimited access, especially during the testing phase, Vietnam Airlines is trying to compete with foreign airlines.
For domestic flights, the payment system is in the process of being completed. Vietnam Airlines will deploy service sales as soon as this system is standardized in the Vietnamese market.
It is expected that from now until the end of December 2025, this airline will deploy WiFi service on Airbus A350 aircraft that have been installed with satellite Internet connection system and will continue to expand on other aircraft lines; at the same time, coordinate with partners to diversify payment methods and access packages.
Significantly increased revenue for the company
According to airlines, in addition to ticket prices or seat comfort, the ability to connect to the Internet on the plane has become an important factor to attract customers. With long journeys of 6-10 hours between Vietnam and destinations such as Europe, the US or Seoul... WiFi not only brings convenience in entertainment, checking emails or maintaining work but also helps passengers reduce stress when having to sit in the air for a long time.
Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said that providing WiFi service on planes not only serves the connectivity needs of passengers but also opens up a significant source of revenue for the airline.
Ancillary revenues such as catering, baggage fees and in-flight internet services are becoming important financial pillars of Vietnam Airlines. The airline aims to increase the proportion of ancillary revenues to 9-10% by 2030, equal to the average of the world aviation industry and equivalent to revenue from cargo transport.
Currently, there are more than 1,000 commercial aircraft in the world equipped with in-flight Internet systems, and this number is expected to increase to more than 24,000 by 2035.
Many major airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa and Air France have launched this service, providing passengers with a seamless connection experience while in flight.
According to Mr. Dang Anh Tuan, the results of the pilot phase of the in-flight Internet connection service are very positive, and the expansion of this service is one of the key directions in the strategy to improve passenger experience and promote digital transformation. The airline does not only provide simple Internet connection services but will aim to build a "digital space in the air" where passengers can both work and experience entertainment and cultural content.
It will become easier to choose to buy data packages on the air
Mr. Nguyen Minh Quan (45 years old), who often travels for work, said he can check messages, send emails and update work right in the business class cabin when the airline provides in-flight WiFi. "The network is sometimes a bit slow, especially when changing flight zones, but overall it is stable and very convenient," Mr. Quan commented.
Customers can access the Internet while flying on Vietnam Airlines' test flights of this service - Photo: VNA
In fact, this is not the first time Vietnam Airlines has tested in-flight WiFi service. In October 2019, the airline first introduced this utility on some A350 aircraft, operating routes Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi - Shanghai, Hanoi - Osaka and Ho Chi Minh City - Osaka, Singapore.
At that time, passengers could choose between different packages in terms of usage time and capacity, up to 80MB, with prices ranging from 2.95 - 29.95 USD. However, after a short time, Vietnam Airlines temporarily suspended the implementation due to high investment costs, incomplete technology infrastructure, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the near future, Vietnam's national airline said it will continue to expand its WiFi service, allowing passengers to access the WiFi connection portal from their personal devices and easily choose to purchase a suitable data package during their flight.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cac-hang-bay-dua-nhau-dua-wifi-len-troi-gia-cao-hay-vua-20251026223557489.htm
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