In August, Alaska Airlines revealed intentions to roll out complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, and the timeline has now been accelerated with the initial aircraft already fitted with the service. Alaska Airlines is partnering with SpaceX to deploy Starlink Wi-Fi throughout its fleet, which includes Boeing 787s, 737s, and Embraer E175s. The service is currently operational on the first four Horizon Air Embraer E175s, with plans to retrofit the complete regional fleet promptly. Starlink will launch on Boeing 737s in early 2026 and on Boeing 787s later that same year, with the initiative anticipated to reach completion by early 2027.
The Wi-Fi service is provided at no cost to members of Alaska’s Atmos Rewards loyalty program, in association with T-Mobile. Members can connect various devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband internet from gate to gate, facilitating activities such as live streaming, gaming, and e-commerce.
Starlink is becoming increasingly popular among airlines, with carriers like airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, SAS, United, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet announcing intentions to adopt the service. The installation process is swift once the aircraft receive certification.
This advancement is viewed favorably and logically, especially as Hawaiian Airlines, which is part of Alaska Air Group, was the pioneer in offering Starlink Wi-Fi. By early 2027, Alaska Air Group will have Starlink Wi-Fi available fleetwide, excluding Boeing 717s utilized for inter-island flights. Alaska had previously provided Intelsat 2Ku, making Starlink Wi-Fi a considerable enhancement in both speed and value.
United stands as the only other major US airline committed to Starlink, granting Alaska and United a competitive edge. Delta provides free Wi-Fi, while American intends to do so by early 2026, primarily using Viasat.
In conclusion, Alaska Airlines has commenced the rollout of free Starlink Wi-Fi, starting with Horizon Air Embraer E175s. The service will expand to Boeing 737s in early 2026 and Boeing 787s later that same year, with completion by early 2027. Offered in collaboration with T-Mobile, it is complimentary for Atmos Rewards members, representing a notable development following Hawaiian’s initiative to offer Starlink widely.