The days of unreliable and slow in-flight Wi-Fi may soon be over, according to Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. Speaking on “Squawk Box Asia” on Friday, Foran stated that high-speed and dependable Wi-Fi will soon become “ubiquitous” on full-service airlines, transforming the passenger experience. The driving force behind this change is Starlink, the satellite-based internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which is gaining popularity among airlines seeking to offer seamless connectivity in the skies.
Air New Zealand, one of the airlines exploring the potential of Starlink, announced in December 2023 that it would install the service on two of its domestic aircraft by late 2024. However, Foran revealed that the launch has been postponed, with trials now expected to begin in 2025. “Early next year, you will see Starlink operating on one of our turbo props and one of our jets,” Foran said. He explained that initial tests had been successful, but the next phase involves full installation and operational trials on planes. Once these trials are completed, the airline will assess the timeline for a broader rollout.
Starlink, which operates via a network of over 6,000 satellites, promises to provide passengers with fast internet capable of supporting streaming services and instant messaging across multiple devices, even in remote regions such as mid-ocean or polar areas. This global coverage makes it particularly attractive for airlines looking to improve in-flight connectivity.
United Airlines is also making significant strides with Starlink, having signed the industry’s largest agreement for the service. The airline announced that testing will begin in 2025, with plans to equip its entire fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft over the next few years. Other airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, and Air France, have also inked deals with Starlink, with the latter set to launch the service on its fleet in the summer of 2025.
Both Air New Zealand and United Airlines have indicated that Starlink’s high-speed internet will be free for passengers or included in the ticket price, addressing a common complaint among travelers about having to pay for subpar Wi-Fi during flights.
Foran expressed confidence in the partnership with SpaceX, noting that discussions with Starlink representatives have been positive and that the project is progressing well. “We’ve made terrific progress with this,” he said. “It’s going to be a fantastic offering.”
As airlines continue to embrace Starlink, passengers can look forward to a future where reliable in-flight connectivity becomes the norm.
