‘Work from the air’: China’s airlines bet on free wi-fi to rival bullet trains

The move comes as China’s air travel sector faces stiff competition from the country’s vast high-speed rail network

China’s biggest airlines are rolling out free in-flight Wi-Fi to regain business travellers who have increasingly opted for high-speed trains, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

China Eastern Airlines on October 11 launched a free “basic” Wi-Fi service across all its widebody aircraft operating on domestic routes, a company representative said, speaking anonymously in line with corporate rules. The rollout covers 37 routes linking major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kunming and Wuhan.

Air China and China Southern Airlines—two of China Eastern’s main competitors—already provide complimentary Wi-Fi on smaller portions of their domestic fleets, the representative added.

“We’ve had ‘work from home’, and now a lot of business travellers are changing the phrase to ‘work from the air’,” the representative said, noting that a trial run in August received positive feedback from passengers.

The move comes as China’s air travel sector faces stiff competition from the country’s vast high-speed rail network, particularly in the lucrative business segment. On busy corridors such as Beijing–Shanghai, a large number of travellers have switched from planes to trains, prompting the China Air Transport Association in April to warn that airlines’ passenger bases were being “eroded”.

Air China, China Eastern and China Southern all reported losses in the first half of the year, citing fierce competition, supply imbalances, and the growing preference for high-speed rail, according to domestic media outlet Yicai Global.

Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Society of Reform think tank, said the absence of in-flight Wi-Fi had long been “a significant competitive disadvantage” for Chinese airlines compared with bullet trains.

“Passengers who need to stay connected online are likely to choose high-speed rail,” Peng said. “This includes those investing in financial sectors like the stock market, those maintaining uninterrupted control of businesses, and those who need to hold online meetings or reviews at specific times.”

Business travellers on China’s high-speed trains have enjoyed Wi-Fi access for nearly a decade and can use 5G data on their phones except in remote areas. With comparable fares and travel times—such as the 4.5-hour, 500-600 yuan (US$70–84) Beijing–Shanghai route—many travellers find trains more efficient.