Recently, numerous airlines have disclosed their intentions to implement Starlink Wi-Fi, and there’s encouraging news for European aviation, as Lufthansa Group has announced its plans in this regard as well.
Starlink arriving at Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, etc.
Lufthansa Group has unveiled plans to provide complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi on all aircraft across its member airlines. This encompasses over 850 aircraft, including those operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, and others. Starlink will be complimentary for all passengers holding a Miles & More Travel ID, which can be registered for free.
As it stands, Starlink is anticipated to be launched in the second half of 2026, with the complete rollout expected to be achieved by 2029. Nonetheless, the specifics of the timeline beyond that remain uncertain, leaving the sequence in which airlines and planes will receive the new service unknown.
Starlink is recognized for its high-speed, low-latency broadband internet, and the service will be available gate to gate. Starlink Wi-Fi will facilitate live streaming, productivity akin to that on the ground (with impressive upload and download speeds), gaming, e-commerce, and more.
Starlink is gaining traction among airlines. To date, we have seen airlines such as airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, SAS, United, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet, all announce their plans to integrate the service.
Here’s how Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx characterizes this progress:
“In the year of our anniversary, celebrating Lufthansa’s 100th birthday, we have opted to implement a new high-speed internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group is progressing and setting a crucial milestone for enhancing our customers’ premium travel experience. Connectivity aboard is vital today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the top product available in the market but also in our passengers’ satisfaction.”
Starlink Wi-Fi is set to be available across the entire Lufthansa Group fleet.
This is fantastic news, but patience will be necessary.
Indeed, Lufthansa Group is the last of the “big three” European airline groups to disclose plans to deploy Starlink Wi-Fi. However, what distinguishes Lufthansa Group in this context is its initiative to implement Starlink across all airlines and fleets.
This approach differs from Air France-KLM (where plans do not currently include KLM or Transavia) or IAG (where it’s not planned for Aer Lingus or Vueling at this time). Thus, it’s refreshing to see Lufthansa Group pursuing such a level of uniformity.
Some patience will undoubtedly be essential, as the anticipated rollout will span over three years. My hope is that Lufthansa Group expedites the process through each airline swiftly to establish some consistency.
One might expect that priority will be given to the two “flagship” airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS, as that’s where the company seeks to compete most fiercely among premium travelers. Concurrently, those are the airlines that currently boast the best Wi-Fi systems. On the other hand, carriers like Brussels Airlines lack any Wi-Fi, making them particularly in need of connectivity, despite not holding a premium position.
Anticipate Starlink fleetwide at Lufthansa Group by 2029.
Final thoughts
Lufthansa Group is planning to roll out complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi across its airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, ITA, Eurowings, Edelweiss, and more. The service is set to begin in the second half of 2026, with completion of the rollout expected by 2029.
While Lufthansa Group stands as the last of the “big three” European carriers to announce Starlink plans, the company is notable for its intention to implement the service across all of its carriers.
What are your thoughts on Lufthansa Group’s Starlink announcement?