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Starlink is the “next big thing” in commercial aviation, and nobody can convince me otherwise. It has only just begun its rise, and I’m not sure most people grasp how much of a game-changer it is: imagine free, incredibly fast wi-fi available to all passengers, and Lufthansa is the latest to have a major update on that front.
All Lufthansa Group to Have Starlink
Many airlines are now rapidly adopting Starlink, with Lufthansa the latest to announce its own plans. Lufthansa formally announces rapid progress on its own Starlink rollout and promises to equip 850 planes with Starlink by 2029.
Lufthansa Group is installing Starlink across 850 aircraft
What’s especially notable is the scope. Lufthansa isn’t limiting Starlink to its flagship airline; the technology is coming to SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, ITA, Eurowings, Discover, Edelweiss, Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa City Airlines, and Lufthansa itself. That’s a much broader commitment than simply upgrading one carrier.
The rollout is happening imminently, and the first Lufthansa plane to have Starlink flies on August 19. It’s an Airbus A320neo, which suggests the rollout will start across Lufthansa’s regional fleet. My assumption is that Lufthansa’s long-haul aircraft are next before moving on to other Lufthansa Group airlines, but I hope at least SWISS will start its own Starlink rollout in parallel.
However, Lufthansa Group hasn’t committed to the earliest possible completion date of 2029, so it may install Starlink one airline at a time. Between now and 2029, though, the timeline can be sped up as well, as we’ve seen United do.
Lufthansa will offer Starlink for free, just as many other airlines already do. Starlink will be free for all Miles & More customers regardless of travel class. Since Miles & More is free to join, there’s effectively no barrier to accessing the complimentary Wi-Fi.
The announcement is also another reminder of Lufthansa Group’s broader investment in its passenger experience. Earlier this year, Lufthansa refreshed its business class catering with plated cake service and introduced new amenity kits in economy.
Why Starlink Matters
Starlink is the future when it comes to the standard for in-flight wifi: free, incredibly fast, and able to log in to multiple devices. Gone are the days of paying $20+ for “email-speed” wifi, $40+ for “streaming-speed” wifi.
I hadn’t quite grasped the impressiveness of Starlink at 38,000 feet until I experienced it for myself. The first (and only) time I tried Starlink was on an Air France flight from Paris to Toronto, and it was so mind-blowing that seeking out planes with Starlink is completely worth any extra effort. I was able to work just as efficiently as at home and stream Netflix in 4K, all after logging in with my Flying Blue credentials.
Starlink speeds on board Air France
Especially when flying economy, Starlink is the difference between “wasting” multiple hours in the air and being productive, which makes a huge difference to me.
Even for leisure travellers, I suspect most won’t want to go back to “regular” planes after streaming TikTok, playing live video games, and video-calling their friends with no lag and at no additional cost. I’ll leave the ethics and morals of video calls to you, but it’s worth noting that both Air France and Qatar specifically mention video calls as a benefit of Starlink.
My take is that as more and more airlines adopt Starlink, the gap between those that do and those that don’t will feel massive: it’ll be like the difference between dial-up and fibre-optic internet. That divide isn’t fully apparent yet because industry adoption remains in its early stages, but airlines are moving quickly to install it.
Starlink Closer to Home
To take a look at how the Starlink rollout is going closer to home, United remains the North American leader in Starlink deployment. First announcing Starlink in 2024, United is on pace to install Starlink on 1,000 planes by the end of 2026.
Notably, Aeroplan and United MileagePlus members offer reciprocal free Wi-Fi, so your Aeroplan number is the ticket to free wi-fi. To see if your United flight is equipped with Starlink, check the flight status on United’s website.
This banner will be shown if your upcoming flight has Starlink
In Canada, WestJet also offers Starlink. Air Canada offers Starlink only on Dash 8 aircraft, with all 25 equipped. On other aircraft, Air Canada offers high-speed internet sponsored by Bell, and there have been no announcements about Starlink. We suspect it’ll come after current agreements expire, but at least Air Canada wins brownie points for partnering with a Canadian company.
Takeaway
Lufthansa Group is rolling out Starlink across all participating airlines, starting with the Lufthansa regional fleet. The first Starlink-equipped Lufthansa plane takes off August 19, and Lufthansa is announcing that all 850 aircraft will be complete by 2029. Starlink is exciting on its own, but Lufthansa Group’s decision to equip every airline in the group makes the rollout even better, even if we have to wait patiently.
Personally, I now view Starlink the same way I view lie-flat seats or lounge access: it’s become a meaningful factor in my airline choice. That might sound over the top today, but I suspect we’ll look back in a few years and wonder how we ever tolerated paying for slow, unreliable Wi-Fi. The airlines that adopt Starlink quickly will have a real competitive advantage, while those that don’t risk feeling increasingly outdated.
Featured Image Credit: Lufthansa
