Air France to Equip Entire Fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi

DALLAS — Air France (AF) will progressively equip its entire mainline and regional fleet with satellite internet connection via Starlink beginning in 2025.

Starlink’s service will enable the French flag carrier to provide their customers with ultra-fast connectivity akin to that on the ground. All cabins will have free access to the service; travelers only need to register using their Flying Blue loyalty club account.

Air France will keep providing conventional internet access, which includes free messaging for Flying Blue members as well as paid choices for all other passengers while the new service is being rolled out across its fleet.

Starlink Rollout

JSX, a public charter operator in the United States, was the first airline to implement Starlink connectivity in late 2022. It offers free Wi-Fi to passengers on its fleet of Embraer Regional Jets.

Hawaiian Airlines (HA) became the first major US airline to roll out complimentary Wi-Fi using Starlink on its commercial flights in February 2024. The service was available on flights between the Hawaiian islands, continental US, Asia, and Oceania.

Two weeks ago, United Airlines (UA) unveiled a deal with SpaceX to provide Starlink Wi-Fi service across its entire mainline and regional fleet. The new service will transform the in-flight experience with live TV, streaming services, online shopping, and gaming features.

United’s Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella emphasized how Starlink’s low-latency technology will create an unparalleled in-flight internet experience.

“People underestimate what this announcement really means because Starlink just enables a living room-like experience on an aircraft. It’s completely different from the systems that are flying around the world today,” Nocella said. He also highlighted the reliability of the system, noting that "the antenna has no movement, and that’s why this is revolutionary.”

He also assured customers that fares would remain unchanged despite the free W-iFi. “Starlink will be free. I think that’s the least exciting part of our announcement, quite honestly, because this is about reliability and access,” Nocella remarked. The installation of Starlink on more than 1,000 UA aircraft will begin in 2025, with testing starting early that year.

Finally, HA went full circle this week, announcing that it had completed the installation of Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency Wi-Fi across its 24 A330 fleet and is now offering the service free of charge onboard all Airbus-operated flights between the islands and the continental U.S., Asia, and Oceania.

The carrier added that Starlink had operated without any service disruptions since it was introduced on its Airbus aircraft, even when traveling over the furthest reaches of the Pacific Ocean. 

Future Starlink Implementations

Qatar Airways (QR) has announced plans to introduce Starlink and free internet access on its flights. The airline aims to provide speeds of up to 350 megabits per second for its passengers.

In January, Latvian carrier airBaltic (BT) signed up to install Starlink across its A220-300 fleet, becoming the first European carrier to commit to it. Service is expected to begin this year. Japanese low-cost carrier ZIPAIR (ZG), which operates Boeing 787-8 aircraft, has signed up for Starlink, with service expected in "2024 & Beyond."

Air New Zealand (NZ) plans to trial free Starlink internet on its domestic aircraft, starting with ATR turboprop aircraft and an A320 in late 2024. NZ aims to roll out the service to other aircraft in their fleet in 2025. Finally, Canadian airline WestJet (WS) plans to implement Starlink on select flights starting in December 2024.

As Starlink continues to expand its aviation services, more airlines are likely to adopt this technology in the coming years, potentially revolutionizing in-flight Wi-Fi experiences for passengers worldwide.