Wi-Fi on flights can be unreliable and expensive. Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service is promising to change all that and airlines are signing up
We’re addicted to our devices. Glued to them on the commute, in our cars, distracted on the busy footpath. Wi-Fi connectivity has almost become a basic human right, and now even the aircraft cabin has been breached.The availability and delivery of in-flight Wi-Fi varies a lot. For many airlines, it’s another ancillary service that enables them to make a few more dollars from their passengers.
A few airlines including Air New Zealand and Malaysia Airlines offer free Wi-Fi access to all passengers in all classes on selected aircraft. Delta’s in-flight Wi-Fi is free for SkyMiles members, and membership is free. The same applies to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer members. The service will initially be available only on Qatar’s Boeing 777s, with 12 aircraft equipped with the Starlink satellite connection by the end of 2024. The first flight to feature the service took off last month, flying from Doha to London.
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