It’s not just British Airways that is going to pick Starlink by SpaceX for its connectivity solution – most of the airlines under the International Airlines Group (IAG) are following too.
IAG’s order will cover a strategic investment in wi-fi connectivity for 500+ aircraft.
It will cover connectivity on aircraft operated by Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling. The first aircraft with the new connectivity solution is due to go live with the service in early 2026.
This will allow customers to stay connected in the skies with download and upload speeds as good or better than home connectivity, enabling fast downloads, streaming and online gaming for customers on IAG airlines.
Notably, it will be free in all classes of travel
The new high-speed wi-fi partnership with Starlink will be implemented on more than 500 aircraft across IAG’s airlines, covering short-haul journeys in Europe as well as all the Group’s long-haul transatlantic and global routes.
This means that IAG’s fleet is on track to include more aircraft with high-speed wi-fi than any other European airline group.
The IAG fleet as of 31 December 2024 was 601 aircraft. All IAG aircraft that are not due for near-term retirement will receive the new wi-fi.
The implementation plans for Starlink will vary by airline and will be communicated as the rollout plan is finalised, with British Airways and Iberia planning to start in 2026.
In Quotes
Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG, said:
“Staying connected in the skies is increasingly important to our airlines’ customers. The introduction of high-speed wi-fi from Starlink will transform onboard connectivity, improving both the connection speed and reliability for customers. Customers from all IAG airlines will be able to benefit from the service from next year. This demonstrates how IAG is working together as a group, to drive innovation and secure major
deals to benefit all our stakeholders.”
Per Economy Class and Beyond coverage, posts about Starlink are not open for comment, with no commentary provided.
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