Huge boost for Brits as major UK airline set to offer free Wi-Fi on all flights
Virgin Atlantic has pledged to provide free, streaming-quality Wi-Fi to all passengers on all of its planes by the end of 2027.
Elon Musk's Starlink constellation of satellites will provide internet to the Virgin fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss announced on Tuesday evening.
According to Space Explored, Starlink for aviation is different from the typical ground-based product and uses a specially made antenna that can work at high speeds and remain reliable over long periods. A number of airlines have announced plans to use the service by the end of 2025, including United Airlines, SAS, and Air France.
Virgin Atlantic is aiming to be the first UK airline to offer the service, which will be unlimited for every passenger who signs up to the airline's Flying Club loyalty scheme. The airline hopes to have it installed on its fleet of Airbus A330neos, A350s, and Boeing 787s by the end of 2027.
Some frequent flyers are bound to welcome the move, given the current high cost and unreliable nature of in-flight Wi-Fi. Others may feel that being disconnected from the internet for a few hours now and again is something to be cherished.
CEO Shai Weiss said: 'To fulfil the brief that we've set ourselves, which is to offer free, basically unlimited, streaming-quality connectivity on a plane, right now there's only one solution: it is Starlink. We were the first airline to launch Wi-Fi fleet-wide across the Atlantic, and now we will be the first fleet to complete this transformation.'
The rollout of Starlink was not the only major announcement on Tuesday evening.
Virgin Atlantic also plans to invest £17 billion in a mixed fleet of 45 next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft, including 19 A330-900s, 12 A350-1000s, and 14 B787-9s, with an average fleet age of just under seven years by 2028.
It will also increase the number of premium seats across its fleet due to high demand.
Premium economy seats will increase from 35 to 56, while business class will increase from 31 to 44. Economy seats, meanwhile, will decrease from 192 to 127.
'In the last four decades, we've evolved from a challenger to a leader and a premium, long-haul flag carrier. We exist to make our customers smile—it's that simple—obsessing over finding new ways to delight our guests, delivered by our amazing people, on our journey to become the most loved travel company,' Shai said.
'We are investing billions to fly the youngest fleet across the Atlantic; the first UK airline to have free, streaming-quality, fleet-wide Wi-Fi; more premium cabins; and a full retrofit of the 787 fleet—alongside a new app featuring the world of Virgin Atlantic in your pocket, all delivered by our amazing teams. The best is yet to come.'
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