Quantcast

WestJet partners with SpaceX's Starlink for free Wi-Fi

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
WestJet partners with SpaceX's Starlink for free Wi-Fi
Events
Webp 1j2z2he2jv85ft2pvno4u4jt2coq
Becca Alkema Operations Manager and Contributing Writer | Runway Girl Network

WestJet has announced plans to integrate SpaceX’s Ku-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-powered Starlink Aviation broadband connectivity into its Boeing 737 narrowbodies and Boeing 787 widebodies. This service will be offered for free to members of its loyalty program.

This development represents a significant shift from WestJet's longstanding provider, Panasonic Avionics, which currently supports the airline’s pay-per-usage onboard Internet service with a legacy Ku-band geostationary (GEO) satcom solution. Notably, Panasonic has also recently seen customer ZIPAIR announce plans to transition to Starlink.

“This new platform will take flight before the end of 2024, with plans to complete the installation on WestJet’s modern narrowbody fleet by the end of 2025,” WestJet revealed in a statement. “All widebody aircraft are planned to be upgraded by the end of 2026.”

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

While financial terms have not been disclosed, the arrangement involves Canadian telco TELUS sponsoring the free Wi-Fi service, delivered through Starlink under a multi-year strategic partnership. WestJet promises that this partnership “will transform the inflight experience for WestJet guests” and set “a new standard in the Canadian airline industry.”

The new inflight service will be exclusively available to WestJet Rewards members at no additional cost. The low-latency LEO satcom-based IFC solution will allow passengers to live-stream videos or play online games directly from their devices as if they were at home, according to WestJet.

Based in Calgary, WestJet primarily operates Boeing 737s but also has seven Boeing 787s in its fleet.

At the late-May Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, SpaceX disclosed that over 700 aircraft had committed to Starlink. This number has since increased to more than 1,000 aircraft following agreements such as this latest one with WestJet and other large-cabin business jet deals.

“With more than 1,000 aircraft committed to Starlink worldwide, high-speed, low-latency Internet is the future of aviation connectivity and we’re excited to work with WestJet to bring Starlink technology to their guests in the coming months,” said Jason Fritch, SpaceX vice president of Starlink Enterprise Sales.

Other airlines utilizing Starlink include JSX, airBaltic, Qatar Airways, and Hawaiian Airlines.

SpaceX’s Starlink phased array antenna was showcased at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. The installation for Hawaiian Airlines features two separate phased array antennas atop Airbus A321neos. Each antenna contains transmit and receive functionality within a single unit; having two antennas instead of one is part of SpaceX's strategy for enhanced bandwidth support on larger aircraft.

Panasonic is pursuing a next-generation multi-orbit Ku-band LEO/GEO inflight connectivity solution using Stellar Blu’s Sidewinder electronically steered antenna. This single-beam ESA will support Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO service alongside Panasonic’s GEO network through various agreements with Ku GEO providers. No customers have yet been publicly announced for this offering.

Currently, WestJet provides Panasonic Avionics’ Ku-band GEO-based IFC solution on its jets.

___

Organizations Included in this History
More News

London Heathrow, recognized as Europe's busiest airport, will soon experience an increase in its flight offerings by Oman Air.

Sep 2, 2025

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport will commence safety and airfield improvement projects on Runway 12R-30L in two distinct phases throughout 2025.

Aug 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

Earlier this year revealed a significant rise in applications for air traffic controller positions, as reported by JALOPNIK.

Apr 19, 2025

UNI Global Union's U.S. affiliate, SEIU, is staging protests across the country against the detention of immigrant workers, including SEIU members.

Apr 18, 2025

An international delegation was barred from entering an Elanders/Bergen Logistics distribution center in New Jersey.

Apr 18, 2025