SpaceX's Starlink is most recognizable for its use in war — most notably by the Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russia — but the satellite service has found a new frontier in the arena of in-flight entertainment. Starlink is looking to expand, and airlines have taken notice of the its ability to provide in-flight Wi-Fi.
Eight airlines around the world have publicly announced deals with Starlink, according to Business Insider: Air Baltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, Qatar Airways, United Airlines and Zip Air. In February 2024, Hawaiian "became the world's first major carrier to deploy Starlink's high-speed, low-latency broadband internet," the airline said.
The biggest change for customers is that these airlines will offer Starlink Wi-Fi for free. Many airlines already offer in-flight Wi-Fi, but there is typically a charge. Some in the aviation industry also claim the satellite's Wi-Fi will work better. The "demand for bandwidth in the sky is not slowing, just like on the ground," airline analyst Seth Miller told The Washington Post. Starlink will "deliver that for airlines with lower latency than the prior generation of satellites, further improving the connected passenger experience." Starlink can be used for "streaming, video calls, online gaming, remote working and more," its website said.
Starlink remains controversial, though, as "radio waves from Elon Musk's growing network of satellites are blocking scientists' ability to peer into the universe," said the BBC. While Starlink can "provide broadband internet around the world, often to remote places," scientists say "this comes at a cost." | 
