Recently, China Eastern Airlines unveiled a major initiative — offering free basic in-flight Wi-Fi service for the entire duration of selected flights.
However, this complimentary benefit comes with three key conditions:
* It is limited to 37 high-frequency “Air Express” routes such as Beijing–Shanghai and Shanghai–Chengdu.
* Flights must be operated by wide-body aircraft.
* The ticket class must be Premium Economy or Economy Class N and above.
These 37 routes, known for their high frequency and punctuality, have long been the top choice for business travelers. Yet, because they carry large numbers of busy professionals, they have also been humorously nicknamed the “cattle and horse routes” by many office workers.
According to the carrier’s announcement, the newly introduced basic in-flight Wi-Fi marks a complete departure from the previous 10-minute free trial model. Passengers can now enjoy full-flight access, supporting functions such as: social messaging, online shopping, web browsing, text reading, and office applications.
Industry experts note that this is the first time a Chinese airline has offered free in-flight Wi-Fi to economy class passengers on such a large scale and in such a formalized way.
