International Airlines Group (IAG) has signed with Starlink to implement its high-speed Wi-FI connectivity on all its airlines.
IAG says the Starlink Wi-Fi will be implemented on more than 500 aircraft flying short and long-haul for the five airlines: British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus and LEVEL.
The service will be accessible from smartphones, digital tablets, and laptops, and each passenger will be able to connect several personal devices simultaneously.
Starlink’s technology, based on a network of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites, will offer download speeds of up to 450 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 70 Mbps, enabling access to streaming entertainment platforms, cloud-based work, online gaming, and many other possibilities.
The first IAG aircraft is due to go live with the service in early 2026. All IAG aircraft that are not due for near-term retirement will get the new Wi-FI.
IAG didn’t say which airline or aircraft will get the service first or how the rollout will proceed. BA says it will start its Starlink rollout in 2026, and Iberia says it will begin implementation in 2026.
All passengers in all classes on all aircraft with British Airways and Iberia will get the service for free. Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL haven’t announced their plans yet.
Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG:
“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.”
How it works
Starlink is the world’s most advanced satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit (LEO), delivering reliable broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more.
It has a huge constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), allowing it to offer high-speed, low-latency Internet access across the globe, including isolated areas.
A small, thin terminal is installed on top of the aircraft. That allows it to receive strong, fast internet signals from the satellites.
The terminal switches connections from satellite to satellite as the aircraft flies, providing an uninterrupted internet experience for passengers.
This allows passengers to use the internet all over the globe, including over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals.
More airlines choosing Starlink
British Airways, Iberia and other airlines are introducing Starlink as it offers stronger streaming and faster connectivity due to its low-Earth orbit satellites that can provide internet access in remote regions and over the ocean.
In addition to IAG, SpaceX has announced Starlink inflight Wi-Fi deals several airlines, including:
