Elon Musk’s Starlink is coming to a flight near you

We’re addicted to our devices. Glued to them on the commute, in our cars, distracted on the busy footpath. Wi-Fi connectivity has almost become a basic human right, and now even the aircraft cabin has been breached.

Airlines are increasingly signing up to Elon Musk’s Starlink in order to provide fast, free internet on flights.Credit: iStock

The availability and delivery of in-flight Wi-Fi varies a lot. For many airlines, it’s another ancillary service that enables them to make a few more dollars from their passengers. A user-pays structure typically delivers better speed since it reduces system requirements, and Wi-Fi bandwidth via satellite is limited.

Some airlines are offering Wi-Fi messaging as a free service to their frequent flyers, which restricts their access to just a few apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

A few airlines including Air New Zealand and Malaysia Airlines offer free Wi-Fi access to all passengers in all classes on selected aircraft. Delta’s in-flight Wi-Fi is free for SkyMiles members, and membership is free. The same applies to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer members.

Free Wi-Fi is available on some Qantas flights aboard A330-200D and B737-800 and A220-300 aircraft to destinations including Singapore, Bali and Jakarta, however coverage may be limited to flights over the Australian mainland. Virgin Australia members, Velocity Platinum and Business Class guests enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access on selected Virgin Australia flights, for others it’s a user-pays system.

Qatar Airways has just lifted the stakes as the latest airline to do a deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite-based internet. The airline is promising ultra-fast Wi-Fi at streaming speed, available from gate-to-gate with no blank spots thanks to Starlink’s worldwide coverage. It’s also free for all passengers.

The service will initially be available only on Qatar’s Boeing 777s, with 12 aircraft equipped with the Starlink satellite connection by the end of 2024. The first flight to feature the service took off last month, flying from Doha to London.

Qatar expects to have its entire 777 fleet linked to Starlink in 2025, along with all its Airbus A350 aircraft.

Several other airlines have also signed up to use the service including Air New Zealand, United Airlines and Air France. It became available on all of Hawaiian Airlines’ Airbus planes in September, again for free.

Starlink’s a game-changer since in-flight Wi-Fi does not usually become available before the aircraft crosses the 10,000-foot threshold. It also promises to override constraints that limit Wi-Fi delivery, such as the number of passengers using the system, where the aircraft is in relation to the satellite or ground station and atmospheric conditions.