American Airlines passengers on many planes will soon be able to access the internet during their flights thanks to a new modernization effort between the airline and Starlink.
On Tuesday, American Airlines announced that it had partnered with Starlink, the satellite-enabled wireless internet provider, to provide in-flight Wi-Fi on more than 500 of its planes beginning early next year.
The Wi-Fi upgrades will be installed on American’s fleet of Airbus aircraft, including new planes that are yet to be delivered. Starlink service will be deployed on American’s domestic flights and short-haul international routes.
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American said the introduction of Starlink to its flights will allow passengers to enjoy in-flight streaming, online gaming, remote work and other meeting tools, and is part of a greater effort to meet the demand of modern, ever-connected travelers.
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want,” said American Airlines Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden. “The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.”
Garboden said the onboard Wi-Fi will be on par with the quality found on a home network with passengers not having to worry about downloading documents or media to keep them entertained prior to boarding.
What is Starlink and how will it work on American Airlines flights?
Starlink utilizes a vast network of thousands of satellites circling the planet in low Earth orbit. The satellites are launched into space aboard SpaceX rockets from launchpads across the globe—including Southern California.
Officials for both companies say Starlink can support multi-gigabit connectivity to aircraft mid-flight.
“We are proud to bring Starlink on board American Airlines, delivering fast and reliable internet to passengers and crew,” said Starlink and SpaceX spokesperson Jason Fritch. “Whether traveling for leisure or business, Starlink enables a fully connected experience gate to gate, making every flight smoother and more enjoyable.”
American is the latest major U.S. carrier to partner with Starlink for in-flight Wi-Fi. Others include Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
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Although not explicitly stated in a company press release, American Airlines has already begun phasing out fees related to in-flight Wi-Fi, meaning this Starlink upgrade will likely be a complimentary perk.
But as mentioned above, not all American flights will have Starlink or free connectivity. According to the Points Guy, the company’s hundreds of Airbus jets is “far from” the company’s entire fleet.
“Based on that announcement, it appears the airline’s existing Boeing 737 (and 737 MAX) fleet would continue using the carrier’s existing service from California-based provider Viasat,” Sean Cudahy of the Points Guy writes. “Many of those planes … still offer legacy Panasonic service that’s expensive; I’ve regularly paid $35 for a transatlantic flight. I’ve also found the service to be far from reliable on a handful of recent flights.”
Plans to upgrade the Wi-Fi on-board the rest of American’s fleet have yet to be announced.
Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, both of which are owned primarily by billionaire Elon Musk.
