In recent times, we’ve seen many airlines announce plans to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi. There’s some good news for European aviation, as Lufthansa Group has revealed that it’s going in this direction as well…
In this post:
Starlink coming to Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, etc.
Lufthansa Group has announced plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi across all planes on all member airlines. So this includes 850+ planes, including those belonging to Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss, etc. Starlink will be free for all passengers who have a Miles & More Travel ID, which is free to register for.
As it currently stands, Starlink is expected to be introduced as of the second half of 2026, and the rollout should be complete by some point in 2029. However, the timeline beyond that remains a mystery, so we don’t know in what order airlines and airplanes will get the new service.
Starlink is known for its high-speed, low-latency broadband internet, and the service will be offered gate to gate. Starlink Wi-Fi will allow for live streaming, productivity similar to on the ground (with high upload and download speeds), gaming, e-commerce, and more.
Starlink is becoming increasingly popular with airlines. So far we’ve seen carriers like airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, SAS, United, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet, all announce plans to install the service.
Here’s how Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx describes this development:
“In our anniversary year, in which we are celebrating Lufthansa’s 100th birthday, we have decided to introduce a new high-speed internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group is taking the next step and setting an essential milestone for the premium travel experience of our customers. Connectivity on board plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers.”
This is great news, but we’ll have to be patient
Admittedly Lufthansa Group is the last of the “big three” European airline groups to announce plans to roll out Starlink Wi-Fi. However, what makes Lufthansa Group special here is that the company is rolling out Starlink across all airlines and fleets.
That’s different than Air France-KLM (where it’s not planned for KLM or Transavia, as of now) or IAG (where it’s not planned for Vueling, as of now). So it’s nice to see that Lufthansa Group is planning this level of consistency.
Admittedly a lot of patience will be required, as the rollout is expected to take over three years. My hope at least is that Lufthansa Group works through each airline pretty quickly, to create some consistency.
One would think the priority will be the two “flagship” airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS, since that’s where the company is most hoping to compete among premium customers. At the same time, those are also the airlines that currently have the best Wi-Fi systems. Meanwhile carriers like Brussels Airlines don’t offer Wi-Fi at all, so are really most in need of connectivity, but also don’t really have premium positioning.
Bottom line
Lufthansa Group has plans to roll out free Starlink Wi-Fi across airlines, so that includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, ITA, Eurowings, Edelweiss, etc. The service will be introduced as of the second half of 2026, with rollout expected to be completed by 2029.
While Lufthansa Group is the last of the “big three” European carriers to announce Starlink plans, the company is unique for intending to introduce the service across all carriers.
What do you make of Lufthansa Group’s Starlink announcement?
Perhaps the German nationals who visit this website can throw more light upon this subject?
Free WiFi in Germany was very slow to be rolled out to customers in cafes and bars, etc. Is this part of the German mindset that WiFi should not be universally available with free access?
Lufthansa still haven't finished their inflight facsimile rollout from 1992.
Given LH’s fantastic record of rolling out an entirely new and already obsolete and incredibly over engineered product, I can’t even imagine how long this will take them. Then we have AF who has already rolled this out on many routes (luckily the ones I take) and I can tell you it’s a delight and works extremely well amd across devices.
For those worried about extra noise, AF also very politely, yet firmly, reminds...
Given LH’s fantastic record of rolling out an entirely new and already obsolete and incredibly over engineered product, I can’t even imagine how long this will take them. Then we have AF who has already rolled this out on many routes (luckily the ones I take) and I can tell you it’s a delight and works extremely well amd across devices.
For those worried about extra noise, AF also very politely, yet firmly, reminds passengers to use earphones in order to respect the silence of other passengers.
AF running circles around LH.
There is now way LH Group will finish the roll out in this decade.
Given that SN broke the news on Instagram, and the fact that they don't have connectivity yet, would they be first to equip Starlink?
What is the "nonmember tax" (price for those who don't have a Miles & More Travel ID?)
It would be nothing as it's baked in that the service must be provided FOC in all cabins. If an airline doesn't agree to that then they don't get Starlink.
I imagine the M&M caveat is one not covered and being used by them as nothing more than the ability to create a fake surge of membership numbers
Lipstick on a pig.
Only the first 2 rows of business class will be allowed to use the free wifi due to weight restrictions.
…. the source of that information is, Eric?
Most of the big Star Alliance players are installing Starlink. Anyone airline not willing to get left behind in a major way.
Starlink users enjoy far superior speeds, stability, reliability and lower latency (delay) due to arrays of low earth orbit (closer) satellites that enable gaming, streaming, and video calls that are rough or impractical on other providers like ViaSat that also has huge holes in its coverage. Starlink is a game-changer.
Starlink installs in...
Most of the big Star Alliance players are installing Starlink. Anyone airline not willing to get left behind in a major way.
Starlink users enjoy far superior speeds, stability, reliability and lower latency (delay) due to arrays of low earth orbit (closer) satellites that enable gaming, streaming, and video calls that are rough or impractical on other providers like ViaSat that also has huge holes in its coverage. Starlink is a game-changer.
Starlink installs in four days v 10 and weighs 85 v 300 pounds with more streamlined antennae. More reliable with weather proof laser switching between more numerous and optimal satellites.
So far Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic among airlines going with Starlink.
first, as with all things involving technology, Starlink is a great product - but it came years after other high earth satellite systems that have been working for years.
We are supposed to believe that the PROMISE and HOPE of Starlink is supposed to make up for the lack of high speed internet those airlines had for years.
According to your thinking, Starlink is the nirvana and no other satellite internet provider will offer anything...
first, as with all things involving technology, Starlink is a great product - but it came years after other high earth satellite systems that have been working for years.
We are supposed to believe that the PROMISE and HOPE of Starlink is supposed to make up for the lack of high speed internet those airlines had for years.
According to your thinking, Starlink is the nirvana and no other satellite internet provider will offer anything else and no existing provider will improve the performance of their systems.
Not only are both things factually wrong but it is completely devoid of logic for everything else regarding technology.
All evidence to the contrary, but that has never stopped you before. Just a matter of time.
there are actually real facts - others have noted that other companies are working on competing LEO options and Viasat has specifically said it is working on faster internet.
and yes technology ALWAYS gets better w/ age.
Starlink is good now. You have no idea how long it will stay where it is competitively
but we know that facts are your enemies if they don't paint your dearly beloved ideas as the best.
Sorry, it's simple physics.
In the article you say that for IAG starlink is only planned for BA and Iberia, but it's also planned for Aer Lingus
Credit where credit is due to, Lufthansa. Finally others are following DL, B6, etc. and actually providing similar services. Every airline should do this. It’s 2026. The technology is available. Free, reliable WiFi for all passengers on every flight should be a baseline for commercial aviation, regardless of whether legacy carrier, LCC, or ULCC, all included.
DL isn’t getting Starlink. They are doubling down on last-gen tech so LH isn’t making the mistake of following them.
"similar" in that they're actually offering Free WiFi
Unless someone comes with a reliable way to prevent people from making calls or playing loud music on planes, this is a negative development. I love being connected but I love travelling in peace more.
It can be done via software. It’s not hard. (They have to want to enforce that, though.)
Yeah it would be nice if people didn’t need to be told to listen via headphones instead of via speaker and/or text instead of calling/facetiming while flying.
The problem is Apple reckon everyone has Bluetooth speakers, so the cheap corded version airlines used to hand out is useless.
If someone forgets their Bluetooth earbuds, they’ll use the phone on speaker.
@1990 - Yes and no. You can block some ports and introduce some firewalls but there are many easy workarounds for those motivated enough to do it, not to mention many apps that you don't want to block, you just don't want people to not use them loud (e.g. social media).
Amazon is purportedly working on an alternative satellite network. All things being equal, I'd rather pay Jeff Bezos than Elon Musk.
Ok, but, like, do we American taxpayers need to subsidize each of them and their companies, still, if they are already so profitable and wealthy? Same goes for oil and gas, big pharma, etc. OR, if we’re gonna keep subsidizing them, can we just please have some universal healthcare, at a minimum?
This is one upgrade I really don't care about. I'm very happy to be without a connection in the skies.
I don't like connecting to WiFi on planes anyway, since flying provides one of the last refuges from permanent connectivity. That said, I *definitely* wouldn't connect to the provider run by the guy who spent the first few months of 2025 stealing massive amounts of government and personal data. I'll check my email when I land and can connect through a provider with some actual internal standards, thanks.
And this will be implemented together with the Allegris refit, so all planes should be completed by 2049.
Still better than Finnair’s awful business class seats that don’t partially recline… and if AY fails, you get stuck in HEL… (at least you’ve got moomin…)
finnairs seat is one of the greatest in the industry. ANA is copying it. I would prefer that seat before allegris