For years, airplane Wi-Fi was a service many passengers found lacking. Slow speeds and high costs often made it an unattractive option for travelers seeking connectivity in the skies. However, the advent of Starlink's satellite internet system is transforming this landscape.
Starlink utilizes low-Earth orbit satellites to provide high-speed, low-latency internet globally. This includes coverage over oceans and remote areas where traditional inflight Wi-Fi typically struggles. As a result, passengers can now enjoy fast enough speeds for streaming video, smooth video calls, and cloud-based work. On some airlines, the service is even offered for free.
Several airlines are adopting Starlink Wi-Fi in 2025. In North America, Hawaiian Airlines offers free Starlink Wi-Fi on its Airbus A330 and A321neo aircrafts with plans to extend it to Boeing 787s soon. United Airlines plans to introduce Starlink on regional jets by the end of 2025 and begin mainline aircraft installations in 2024. WestJet provides free access to its rewards members and TELUS customers on narrow-body aircrafts starting in 2025.