Starlink Is Rapidly Changing What Airline Passengers Expect at 35,000 Feet

Lufthansa Group is joining a growing list of airlines embracing high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, with many offering it free. We examine which airlines use Starlink, what passengers pay, and whether Amazon, Viasat and other competitors can challenge its aviation lead. Which Airlines Offer Free Wi-Fi?

Lufthansa Group’s plan to put Starlink on roughly 850 aircraft shows that high-speed internet is rapidly moving from an airline extra to an expected part of the passenger experience. More than 40 carriers have now committed to Starlink, while Amazon Leo, Viasat and other satellite players are fighting to prevent SpaceX from owning the connected skies. For decades, airline passengers learned to lower their expectations when they connected to Wi-Fi at 35,000 feet.

A connection good enough for email was considered acceptable. Streaming could be an adventure. Large downloads were best postponed until landing.

On some aircraft, passengers paid $10, $20 or more only to watch a spinning wheel on their screen. And Lufthansa Group has just put an exclamation mark behind the transformation.