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    Argentinian Bill Proposes Free In-Flight Wi-Fi on All Commercial Flights

    Argentinian lawmaker Oscar Agost Carreño has introduced a bill that would require all airlines operating commercial flights in Argentina to offer free basic Wi-Fi onboard. Nevertheless, the initiative faces major challenges — and is unlikely to move forward.

    20 de julio de 2025 - 22:13
    Aeroparque Jorge Newbery - Plataforma con aviones de Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi y JetSMART
    Aeroparque Jorge Newbery - Plataforma con aviones de Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi y JetSMART
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    Oscar Agost Carreño, National Representative for Córdoba, has introduced a bill in the Argentine Congress that would require all airlines operating commercial passenger flights in Argentina —both domestic and international carriers— to provide basic in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity at no additional cost to passengers.

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    The initiative, filed under docket number 3852-D-2025, mandates that airlines must offer at least a free internet service that allows the use of instant messaging and email. For Argentine carriers, this obligation would also extend to their international routes.

    “In the 21st century, access to connectivity constitutes a functional right of citizenship,” the legislator argues in the bill’s introduction. He adds that this right is “closely tied to the exercise of other fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, education, and participation in social and economic life.”

    Carreño emphasizes that public passenger transport services must “meet this digital access standard.” He cites global airlines like JetBlue, Delta, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, and Air France, which already offer onboard connectivity and have even adopted advanced satellite technologies like Starlink to ensure coverage throughout the entire flight.

    Although there are no current laws that enforce this requirement globally, Carreño notes that “the market and European regulation have moved toward including connectivity as part of the minimum standard of service for passengers.”

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    Under the proposed bill, airlines would have up to two years to implement the service after the law takes effect. The National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) would serve as the regulatory authority, empowered to set technical standards, monitor compliance, and enforce penalties.

    The bill also allows flexibility for regional or small-scale operators, granting them extended timelines to ensure that the measure does not jeopardize their financial sustainability.

    It further stipulates that minimum technical parameters —including speed, latency, security, and availability— would be defined in future regulations. The National Executive Power would have 180 days to issue those regulations after the law is passed.

    “Flying should not mean being disconnected from the world,” Agost Carreño stresses. He concludes that the bill seeks to ensure that air travelers in Argentina “have access to a level of service aligned with 21st-century standards.”

    However, the legislator’s good intentions are likely to collide with the current reality of Argentina’s domestic airline industry, which —facing its own challenges— is still far from implementing even paid onboard internet.

    Aerolíneas Argentinas appears to be the only carrier making progress in this area, reportedly in talks with an international provider. JetSMART, despite having one of the newest fleets, has yet to announce any plans for Wi-Fi in Argentina or its other subsidiaries. Flybondi, on the other hand, may have more pressing matters to resolve —to put it in terms of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

    As for international airlines operating in Argentina, most already offer in-flight connectivity (some even with free messaging), but several key players —such as LATAM, which only offers it on part of its fleet, or Avianca, SKY, and Copa Airlines, which currently do not provide the service— could be negatively impacted by a local mandate. Forcing them to implement it solely for the Argentine market could set a troubling precedent and hurt their competitiveness.

    For these reasons, the bill faces significant obstacles —both in terms of legislative approval and practical implementation.

    📄 Download the document: Bill by Representative Agost Carreño proposing mandatory in-flight internet for airlines operating in Argentina

    The surreal memory of Norwegian Air Argentina

    Yes, it now feels as surreal as it did when announced in 2017, but for a brief time, Norwegian Air had an Argentine domestic subsidiary operating scheduled flights.

    Because the aircraft came directly from its European operations, they were already equipped with onboard Wi-Fi.

    Thus, in November 2018, just one month after launching service, Norwegian Air Argentina became the first airline in the country’s history to offer in-flight internet — free of charge. 

    But this venture lasted only until December 2019, when the company was acquired by JetSMART, which eventually led to the return of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft

    En vivo desde el vuelo 6028 de @Norwegian_ARG, a 10.445 m de altura, gracias a internet a bordo. pic.twitter.com/977MNd93dd

    — Aviacionline.com (@aviacionline) April 11, 2019
    Temas
    • aviation in Argentina
    • onboard internet
    AUTOR
    Edgardo Gimenez Mazó
    Edgardo Gimenez Mazó
    Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES
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