In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Getting a Boost on These Starlink-Enabled Airlines
Starlink-equipped planes achieve superior internet speeds due to its fleet of almost 8,000 low-Earth orbit satellites, which operate much closer to Earth than the geostationary satellites used by competitors like Hughesnet and Viasat, CNET's broadband reporter Joe Supan notes.
Travelers like me who've been itching for a better in-flight internet experience are here for it. If your next flight is Starlink-enabled, you can access streaming, gaming and video calls at 30,000 feet -- and sometimes for free.
More and more airlines are adopting the service, with nine carriers already offering it or in the process of rolling it out -- and two more expected to follow soon.
These are the airlines bringing this game-changing internet service to your next flight and why it's expected to be a superior option.
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What is Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi, and what's special about it?
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet service. It launched in 2019, beginning with a little over 100 satellites. Today, it has a fleet of nearly 8,000 LEO satellites in our skies. Starlink has been a game-changer for many people living in rural areas with limited access to traditional broadband. But some scientists are ringing alarm bells over its environmental concerns, Supan wrote earlier this year.
The draw for air travelers is that Starlink's in-flight Wi-Fi is almost twice as fast as any other in-flight Wi-Fi option, according to speed test site Ookla's latest report. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Starlink's latency during flight experience is far ahead of the competition, too. Latency -- the time it takes data to travel to and from your device -- can make or break your internet experience. Low latency can make your internet feel slow, while high latency makes it feel faster. Ookla's report shows Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi's latency is 44ms, compared to the next-best in-flight option, MTN Satellite Communications, whose latency is 667ms.
That means you'll have the bandwidth to do all sorts of digital activities while flying, from streaming movies to online gaming to video chatting.
Starlink's LEO satellites are only 342 miles above the ground, while other providers' satellites like Hughesnet and Viasat are more than 22,000 miles above ground. This closer distance to an airplane's flight path explains why Starlink performs better.
The price tag is also attractive. Traditional Wi-Fi can run you $10 to $25 on many top airlines, while Starlink is free on all airlines that currently offer it.
Which airlines have Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi right now?
As of July 2025, these airlines offer Starlink in-flight Wi-iFi.
United Airlines
Some United Airlines regional jets already have Starlink, and the airline says it plans to offer it on all regional jets by the end of 2025. Mainline aircraft will be next. United Airlines hopes to have its full fleet equipped over the next few years. Starlink internet service will be free for members of the MileagePlus loyalty program, which you can join at no cost.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines was the first major US airline to offer Starlink. The service is available for free on all 330 and A321neo Airbus aircraft. Hawaiian Airlines plans to install Starlink on Boeing 787 aircraft next, although there's no timeline yet.
JSX
Texas-based JSX was the first global commercial airline to offer Starlink internet service. The hop-on jet carrier, which operates 30-seat flights between private airports, provides the service for free on all of its aircraft.
Air France
Air France began equipping its full fleet with Starlink this summer. There's no cost to use the service, but you'll need a Flying Blue account, which you can create for free. You may not be able to access Starlink while flying over certain countries due to regulatory restrictions. There's no timeline for when the full rollout should be completed.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand is trying out Starlink internet service on two of its aircraft this year. One domestic Airbus 320 jet and one ATR regional turboprop will offer Starlink for free to test its performance and gather customer feedback. The airline hasn't said how long this test phase will last.
WestJet
Canadian airline WestJet is rolling out Starlink on its narrowbody fleet, which it plans to have done by the end of this year. It aims to have all wide-body aircraft equipped by the end of 2026. It's offering the service in partnership with Canadian telecommunications company TELUS. Starlink will be free for all WestJet Rewards members. (Membership is free.)
airBaltic
Latvia-based AirBaltic was the first European airline to offer Starlink, which it expects to provide across its entire Airbus A220-300 fleet by the end of 2025. Some of its aircraft already offer the service, which is free of charge to all passengers. AirBaltic recommends checking with your flight's crew to learn if Starlink is available on your next flight.
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
SAS will begin a phased rollout of Starlink at the end of 2025. It will be free for all passengers and ultimately available on all SAS aircraft.
Qatar Airways
Starlink is available on all of Qatar Airways' Boeing 777s, and the airline has begun equipping its Airbus A350 aircraft with the service, too. Qatar Airways plans to have it on all A350s within the next year. Starlink internet service is available for free from gate to gate on flights between select destinations.
Airlines that have announced plans to offer Starlink in the future
IAG
Fortune reported in December 2024 that the Airline group IAG -- which owns British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus -- is working on its Starlink relationship and could potentially begin offering its service on IAG aircraft soon. IAG is also considering Project Kuiper, Amazon's low-Earth orbit satellite service, which is expected to launch in late 2025.
ZIPAIR
Japan's ZIPAIR announced in 2023 that it would become the first Asian airline to offer Starlink. In its press release, ZIPAIR stated that, "ZIPAIR and SpaceX are working through engineering review and regulatory certification process for ZIPAIR's fleet for Starlink installation." ZIPAIR has not announced when it may begin offering Starlink.
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