Frontier And Copa Will Finally Offer In-Flight WiFi Thanks To Starlink, But The Days Of Free Starlink Are Coming To An End
Starlink is a real game-changer in the skies, offering low-latency, high-speed internet that allows for real productivity and streaming in-flight like never before.
Airlines that add it have seen their Net Promoter Scores double. For now, airlines that have it have a competitive advantage, but pretty soon, airlines without it will find themselves left behind as passengers book away from them.
Until now, Starlink has required airlines to offer the service for free.
But the times they are a-changin’.
Panama-based Star Alliance carrier Copa currently doesn’t offer in-flight WiFi. They recently announced that they will be adopting Starlink fleetwide, but that it will come at a cost unless you have Gold or higher elite status or are traveling in Business Class. Interestingly, if you have Starlink Residential or Starlink Roam subscriptions, you will also receive complimentary onboard access.
That’s the first time that an airline has announced a charge for in-flight Starlink. Starlink, SpaceX, and Copa had no comment about this change.
And today, Frontier has announced that they, too, will finally offer in-flight WiFi, via Starlink. That service will begin to be deployed early next year. In total, Frontier and fellow Indigo Partners airlines (Cebu Pacific, JetSMART, Volaris, and Wizz Air) will install Starlink on over 1,000 aircraft.
The airline writes that it will be, “the first US airline to offer passengers access to Starlink’s high-speed internet through a new system managed directly by Starlink.”
My read of that is that the service will be at charge as well. That’s a shame, but I suppose it’s better than no in-flight WiFi. After having used Starlink in the sky, I never want to go back to an older system!
I don’t expect to see airlines rushing to change from free to paid Starlink as they’re likely under contract to offer it for free. However, we may see more airlines switch to a paid model over time.
Airlines with Starlink or adding Starlink include Aer Lingus, AirBaltic, Air Canada, Air Dolomiti, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska, American, Austrian, British Airways, Brussels, Cebu Pacific, El Al, Emirates, Eurowings, FlyDubai, Frontier, Gulf Air, Hawaiian, ITA, Iberia, JSX, JetSMART Korean, Level, Lufthansa, Qatar, SAS, Singapore, Southwest, Swiss, United, Virgin Atlantic, Volaris, Vueling, WestJet, Wizzair, ZipAir, and more.
Have you flown on a flight with Starlink yet?
