IAG signs up for Starlink Wi-Fi
Passengers on IAG aircraft will soon be able to access high-speed Wi-Fi provided by Starlink
International Airlines Group (IAG), whose members include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling, has selected Starlink to provide fleetwide high-speed Wi-Fi from early 2026.
According to Starlink, passengers will be offered speeds of up to 150-450 Mb/s and upload speeds of 20-70 Mb/s. A download speed of 150Mb/s allows an HD movie of approximately four to five gigabytes to be downloaded in around five minutes.
All IAG aircraft that are not due for near-term retirement will receive the new Wi-Fi service, covering short-haul journeys in Europe as well as all the Group’s long-haul transatlantic and global routes. Implementation plans will vary by airline and communicated as the rollout plan is finalized.
Once complete, IAG’s fleet will include more aircraft with high-speed Wi-Fi than any other European airline group.
In a November 6 announcement, Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG said: “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.”
Once fully fitted, all British Airways passengers, whichever cabin they are travelling in, will have free access to the service for streaming, working and keeping in touch, with no special login required.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive described the addition of Starlink connectivity to the BA fleet as a major milestone in the airline’s transformation journey: “We are continuing to focus on transforming our customer experience. Launching Starlink on both our long-haul and short-haul aircraft is game-changing for us and our customers, elevating their experience on board our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate-to-gate. Especially on short-haul, this will really differentiate us from our competitors.”
“With our new Wi-Fi powered by Starlink, our customers will be able to enjoy lightning-fast, low-lag internet from the moment they board to the moment they land - even over oceans and remote regions. It’s Wi-Fi that feels like home, even at 38,000 feet.”
