American Airlines has begun offering free live TV on 100 domestic aircraft, with plans to expand the service to more than 700 narrow-body planes next year.
Powered by DISH, the in-flight offering features 12 live channels streamed directly to passengers’ laptops, phones and tablets. The channel lineup includes Bravo, CBS, CNBC, CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, Telemundo, TNT and USA.
“Our customers have told us they want a living room experience in the air — the ability to watch free entertainment, stream their favorite shows on-demand, charge their phones and stay connected from start to finish during their travels,” said Kurt Stache, senior vice president for marketing, loyalty and sales at American Airlines. “Free live TV on our mainline domestic fleet is the latest step in making that a reality, and it complements the live TV we offer on all of our international widebody flights today.”
American Airlines says it is working quickly to upgrade its fleet so travelers have consistent entertainment and connectivity options across routes. The initial rollout covers aircraft equipped with Gogo 2Ku high-speed Wi-Fi, including 48 Airbus A320s and 60 A319s, with a broader expansion scheduled for the coming year.
The move aims to enhance the passenger experience by giving flyers access to familiar live programming without the need for personal data usage or third-party subscriptions, while maintaining the carrier’s broader in-flight entertainment and connectivity improvements.