Etihad Airways aims to provide 100 Mbps onboard wi-fi across its fleet in 3 years

Etihad is also working on crypto payment solutions for its passengers. (Photo: Etihad Airways)

100 Mbps wi-fi in three years

Neves said that there are multiple service providers, and Etihad will select a solution soon.

“We have taken the decision to streamline everything, and we’re going to be selecting a solution in two to three years that will provide more than 100 megabits per second in all Etihad fleets,” Neves said.

Etihad Airways fleet

According to the latest available data, Etihad Airways has a fleet of over 100 aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A350, and Airbus A380.

The national carrier of the UAE, which was founded in 2003, has a global presence and operates flights to over 90 destinations across Asia, Australia, Europe, West Asia, and North America.

Explaining the logic behind offering 100 Mbps onboard wi-fi, Neves said that people need it to feel connected and engaged.

“There is no scenario that any airline in the world in three years will not have 100-plus megabits per second Wi-Fi in the aircraft. We got to give it to our customers because there is this saying that ‘Wi-Fi is life’ and people need it to feel connected and engaged,” he said during a virtual conference.

Etihad Airways is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Etihad Airways)

Etihad to accept crypto payments

In addition to high-speed wi-fi, Neves also revealed that Etihad was working on crypto payment solutions for its passengers.

“It’s not the top priority for us right now, but it’s natural. You have to get more currency types as means of payment,” he said.

Etihad will be the second UAE carrier to integrate a crypto payment solution within its systems. In 2025, Dubai-based Emirates announced the integration of crypto payments, which is expected to take effect next year.