Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to launch free Starlink Wi-Fi

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are set to begin offering free, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network starting September 15. This move makes them the first full-service carriers in East Asia to adopt low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology for passenger connectivity.

Korean Air will initially roll out the service on four retrofitted aircraft, including three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER, primarily serving long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The airline aims to expand this service to most of its fleet by the end of 2027. Asiana Airlines will also implement the service in stages, starting with Airbus A350-900 and A330-300 models.

The high-speed connection will allow passengers across all cabin classes to perform tasks such as web browsing, messaging, video streaming, and using cloud-based collaboration tools. However, to maintain cabin comfort and security, the airlines will restrict voice and video calls, as well as live social media streaming. This technological upgrade coincides with the upcoming merger of the two airlines.