London: Passengers flying with the British budget airline easyJet will soon be able to stay seamlessly connected at 30,000 feet. The airline has officially signed a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX-owned Starlink to provide high-speed internet on its flights, addressing one of the biggest challenges for modern air travellers. The new in-flight Wi-Fi service is scheduled to be rolled out starting in 2027.
According to easyJet, the installation of the advanced internet systems across its fleet will commence in the first half of 2027. The airline aims to complete the rollout across its Airbus aircraft, which includes the A320, A320neo, and A321neo models, by early 2028.
Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, acknowledged the complexities of the project. He noted that while providing Wi-Fi on aircraft is an expensive and challenging endeavour, it has become an essential service for millions of passengers. The financial terms of the partnership have not been disclosed, and the airline has not yet clarified whether the internet access will be offered as a free complimentary service or if passengers will be charged a premium.
Rival airline Ryanair previously estimated that implementing Starlink internet across a major fleet could incur costs up to $250 million annually. Earlier in June, competitor Wizz Air also announced a similar partnership with Starlink to boost its in-flight connectivity.
With Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet, easyJet passengers will be able to browse websites, stream videos, play online games, and stay connected with family and friends seamlessly via their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops during the flight. The enhanced connectivity will also allow travellers to track real-time flight details and explore weather, transportation, and tourism information about their destination city. Future upgrades could even enable passengers to order food and beverages directly from the aircraft’s digital menu via their seats.
This partnership aligns easyJet with several major global carriers, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and British Airways, which are already utilising Starlink to revolutionise the in-flight digital experience for their customers.