British Airways has announced it will offer free onboard Wi-Fi with streaming-level speeds, following a new agreement between its parent company and Elon Musk’s Starlink. The airline’s parent company, International Airlines Group, has signed a deal with Starlink to install the service on more than 500 aircraft across its carriers. Starlink, which provides internet via thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, is operated by Mr Musk’s aerospace firm SpaceX.
As part of a “£7 billion transformation”, British Airways said it will start rolling out the technology on flights from next year.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chief executive, said: “We’re 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.”
Free text-based messaging is available to loyalty club members, while packages that allow passengers to stream music, videos, and films cost between £4.99 and £21.99, depending on the duration.
The airline currently provides limited Wi-Fi on most of its planes through its air service.
