British Airways is updating its In-Flight Connectivity solutions as part of a £7 billion transformation plan, with the carrier selecting SpaceX’s Starlink connectivity solution.
Starlink by SpaceX is a connectivity solution that operates in Low Earth Orbit, providing high-speed, low-latency connectivity and greater coverage.
The airline will start its Starlink rollout in 2026.
Once fully fitted, all customers, regardless of cabin, will have free access to the service for streaming, working, and keeping in touch, with no special login required.
It will be available on all British Airways mainline and Euroflyer flights when rolled out. Currently, the airline operates the European Aviation Network on short-haul routes and SES Connectivity (ex Gogo/IntelSat) on its long-haul fleet.
This is the latest investment to be announced as part of British Airways’ £7bn transformation plan – a programme that’s driven vast improvements across the customer experience since it was announced in 2024. The airline has delivered tangible improvements, including a step-change in punctuality, and customer satisfaction scores consistently improving across onboard service, global lounges, food and drink, check-in, boarding and customer care.
During the past few years, the airline has delivered new lounge concepts, 15 renovated lounges, and 36 aircraft delivered since 2023, with 17 of them being Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
There is also further coverage for IAG Group aircraft, which will be covered in another post.
In Quotes
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said:
“We’re continuing to focus on transforming our customer experience. Launching Starlink on both our long-haul and short-haul aircraft is game-changing for us and our customers, elevating their experience on board our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate-to-gate. Especially on short-haul, this will really differentiate us from our competitors.”
“With our new Wi-Fi powered by Starlink, our customers will be able to enjoy lightning-fast, low-lag internet from the moment they board to the moment they land - even over oceans and remote regions. It’s Wi-Fi that feels like home, even at 38,000 feet.”
Per Economy Class and Beyond coverage, posts about Starlink are not open for comment, with no commentary provided.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.