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2 clusters · 7 sources · 1 days · First seen · Last updated

Korean and Asiana Airlines Starlink Wi-Fi rollout

Overview

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have announced plans to launch free, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system beginning September 15. Korean Air will initially offer the service on four retrofitted aircraft serving long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, while Asiana Airlines will roll out the service in stages across ten aircraft.

Both carriers aim to expand this connectivity across most of their fleets by the end of 2027, a timeline that coincides with their upcoming merger. While the service will allow for video streaming and web browsing, voice and video calls, as well as live social media streaming, will remain restricted for security and comfort.

The move comes amid broader industry trends where some carriers, such as British Airways and Emirates, are also integrating Starlink technology. However, many airlines continue to charge for connectivity due to the high costs of satellite infrastructure, technical maintenance, and the challenges of managing limited bandwidth for hundreds of passengers.

Entities

Starlink · Croatia Airlines · British Airways · SpaceX · Airbus

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Aviation industry challenges and costs of in-flight Wi-Fi

    Airlines charge for in-flight Wi-Fi due to high infrastructure costs and limited bandwidth, though some carriers are adopting Starlink to provide free connectivity.

  2. 2 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to launch free Starlink Wi-Fi

    Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will launch free, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi via Starlink on September 15, starting with select long-haul aircraft and expanding across fleets by 2027.

Sources

24sata.hr · biz.heraldcorp.com · dalmacijadanas.hr · koreaherald.com · sky-budget.com · thetravelnews.co.kr · tip-online.at