EasyJet to Equip Planes with Elon Musk's Starlink Wi-Fi

EasyJet has announced plans to integrate Elon Musk's Starlink high-speed inflight connectivity into its aircraft, marking the budget airline's first offering of onboard Wi-Fi. The rollout is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027 and is expected to be completed across the airline's modern A320, A320neo, and A321neo fleet by early 2028.

This new service will enable passengers to stream content, play games, and browse the internet on their personal devices, utilizing Starlink's fast and reliable connection. In addition to entertainment, the connectivity will provide passengers with real-time journey updates, such as flight status information via the easyJet app and website, as well as destination-specific details like weather, local transport, and tourism information.

The airline anticipates that offering these services will attract more business and leisure travelers by meeting their connectivity needs. The technology also opens up possibilities for passengers to order from the inflight menu directly from their seats.

Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, stated that in an increasingly digital world, staying connected is crucial for many customers, whether they are holidaymakers seeking entertainment or business travelers needing to stay informed. He highlighted that partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink's internet onboard will enhance the customer experience and offer more of the options travelers expect.

This development comes months after easyJet reportedly turned down Starlink Wi-Fi. It also follows a public dispute earlier in the year between Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, and Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair. O'Leary had previously expressed reluctance to adopt Starlink's technology, citing cost concerns, which led to a public exchange with Musk.

Details regarding whether the Starlink Wi-Fi service will be free of charge or incur an additional cost have not yet been specified by easyJet.