The digital airline experience is evolving. In our new video, we explore the biggest shifts in the airline industry for 2026.
Free Wi-Fi changes the role of the portal
Over the past few years, two major shifts have been shaping the airline industry. First, several large airlines have moved toward offering free Wi-Fi. Second, rapid technical advancements – especially the emergence of low-Earth-orbit satellites – have made it possible to provide fast, reliable connectivity to everyone on board.
Together, these developments point to a clear trend for 2026: more airlines are moving toward fully free or partially free in-flight Wi-Fi.
As Wi-Fi becomes free, the role of the onboard portal fundamentally changes, because the traditional monetization model changes with it. Airlines now face a choice: remove the portal entirely, or evolve it into something new.
Towards a fully connected cabin
One emerging role for the portal is to support seatback screens and help create a truly connected cabin. In this model, seatback screens are connected to the internet and to other onboard touchpoints, including the passenger portal, the airline’s mobile app, and crew applications.
When these touchpoints are connected, seatback screens become just another digital surface, similar to mobile and web, from both a passenger and development perspective. This allows airlines to introduce new services that span all onboard touchpoints and create a single, cohesive digital experience built across multiple devices.
Seatback screens sit at the heart of the connected cabin. They are in front of passengers throughout the entire flight, making them a natural anchor for the onboard experience. Today’s screens are already impressive pieces of hardware, and by connecting them to the internet and other onboard systems, airlines can offer services that weren’t possible before. The result is a unified experience across the cabin, regardless of which digital touchpoint the passenger uses.
Fleet-wide harmonization and personalization
Another key part of this unification is fleet harmonization. Regardless of aircraft type, hardware generation, or position within the fleet, passengers should experience the same digital interface on seatback screens. We believe this will become as standard for airlines as cabin crew uniforms, consistent and recognizable, no matter which metal you’re on.
A connected cabin also enables personalization, alongside significant operational benefits. Personalization and tailored services have been a long-standing goal for airlines, and the digital onboard experience is a natural extension of that ambition.
Loyalty above and beyond
At the same time, there is a broader megatrend in loyalty programs, both within and beyond aviation. Loyalty programs are expanding into everyday life through subscriptions, partnerships, and the creative use of their own currencies. Airline loyalty programs are following a similar path: if they already have a currency, why shouldn’t passengers be able to use it for a wide range of services?
Evolving loyalty offerings requires integrating a growing network of partners, which means real technical and operational work. While these integrations can be complex, they are also repeatable. Once airlines establish a scalable way to integrate partners, the time from negotiation to launch can shrink dramatically, from weeks to days, or even hours.
