- Lufthansa Group plans to equip around 850 aircraft with Starlink Wi‑Fi, aiming to launch the first flights “as early as the second half of 2026” and complete the upgrade across its entire fleet by 2029.
- Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary dismissed Starlink, pointing to about a 2% fuel penalty caused by the antenna’s weight and drag.
- Business Insider reports that 31 carriers have struck deals with Starlink, noting a peak speed of 215 Mbps during a test on Qatar Airways.
Lufthansa Group is placing one of Europe’s largest connectivity bets yet, planning to outfit about 850 aircraft—both current and incoming—with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet. The installation could kick off “as early as the second half of 2026” across its brands: Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways. The goal is to have the full fleet online by 2029. The group claims no other European carrier will equip more planes with Starlink, offering the service in all classes and free for status holders and Travel ID users. (Business Traveller)
This isn’t merely an upgrade to airline amenities. It marks a shift toward treating in-flight Wi-Fi as an essential feature, rather than a gimmicky add-on that struggles to function.
A robust connection capable of streaming and real cloud tasks shifts the way travelers book flights, choose seats, and select airlines.
Yet the Starlink surge is quickly hitting a hard stop in the airline world: physics and fuel constraints.
Ryanair is holding off — for now, at least. CEO Michael O’Leary told Reuters that slapping an antenna on the fuselage adds about a 2% fuel hit due to extra weight and drag. He also doubts passengers will shell out for Wi‑Fi on typical one‑hour flights. Reuters pointed out these remarks came just after Lufthansa unveiled its Starlink plans and following Scandinavian carrier SAS’s earlier choice, which claims their system creates less aerodynamic drag than competitors. (Reuters)
Starlink’s list of airline partners keeps growing. According to Business Insider, 31 carriers have now signed up for Starlink Wi‑Fi, and during an earlier test on a Qatar Airways flight, speeds hit 215 Mbps. The report highlights that Starlink operates via a constellation of over 7,000 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites. It also mentions competitors like Amazon’s “Leo” network and Viasat, which provides in-flight internet for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. (Business Insider Africa)
Low-Earth orbit (LEO) means satellites orbit much closer to Earth than traditional “parked” satellites, cutting down the distance data has to travel. Simply put: it means less lag, fewer delays, and fewer spinning loading icons.
It’s a big deal since merely having “Wi‑Fi available” no longer cuts it. Travelers carry phones, tablets, work apps, and a growing intolerance for slow or unreliable internet.
Airlines don’t often spell it out, but there’s a clear business play here: connectivity hooks passengers into accounts. Offering “free” Wi‑Fi usually requires a login, which then opens the door to loyalty programs, targeted marketing, and boosting onboard sales.
For Lufthansa, the key is fleetwide uniformity. Deploying the identical high-speed system across its various airlines sets a fresh standard—not only for what customers expect but also for internal processes like maintenance planning and troubleshooting.
Ryanair’s stance highlights that not all airlines succeed by the same formula. When your model depends on short hops and razor-thin margins, a slight increase in fuel consumption can wipe out any gains from passengers entertained with TikToks mid-flight.
The real question is execution. Hardware installs might get delayed, certifications and approvals could take longer than expected, and performance might shift dramatically once thousands of aircraft are actually connected—not just at launch hype. Then there’s the pricing angle: what’s “free” now could quietly shift into a tiered model down the line.
The key question now: will Lufthansa provide a consistent, dependable service as flights begin ramping up in the latter half of 2026, or will the rollout stumble? If successful, Starlink could shift from a standout premium option to the standard in-flight internet choice—though some carriers might still gamble their passengers won’t notice its absence.
