Singapore Airlines has just become the latest carrier to announce plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi, though the timeline and percentage of the fleet expected to be fitted with the service leaves a bit to be desired.
In this post:
Singapore Airlines will install Starlink as of early 2027
Singapore Airlines is partnering with SpaceX to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi on select aircraft. The free service will be available to all first and business class passengers, as well as to KrisFlyer members in premium economy and economy.
Starlink is known for its high-speed, low-latency broadband internet, and the service is offered gate to gate. Starlink Wi-Fi allows for live streaming, productivity similar to on the ground (with high upload and download speeds), gaming, e-commerce, and more. Having recently taken my first flights with Starlink, I can confirm that this is a total game changer, as I see it.
Starlink is becoming increasingly popular with airlines. So far we’ve seen carriers like Aer Lingus, airBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Emirates, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Korean Air, Lufthansa Group, Qatar Airways, SAS, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet, all announce plans to install the service.
Singapore Airlines already offers free Wi-Fi throughout its entire fleet, with most planes being fitted with Panasonic’s service. Under the current system, the requirements for getting free Wi-Fi are the same as they’ll be with Starlink (so it includes all first and business class passengers, and premium economy and economy passengers who are part of the loyalty program). So switching to Starlink will enable much better speeds.
Here’s how Singapore Airlines’ SVP of Customer Experience, Yeoh Phee Teik, describes this development:
“Fast, seamless connectivity is, today, an essential part of the travel experience. Singapore Airlines already offers the world’s most comprehensive complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi across our entire fleet. Starlink will take this to the next level by delivering next-generation high-speed connectivity, enabling customers to stay entertained, connected, and productive throughout their journey, with a smoother and seamless experience from take-off to landing.”
Singapore Airlines’ disappointing Starlink Wi-Fi rollout plans
While it’s great to see Singapore Airlines introducing Starlink Wi-Fi, there are two major things that aren’t terribly impressive about this:
- Starlink will progressively be rolled out between the first quarter of 2027 and the end of 2029
- Starlink will only be rolled out on Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 long haul and ultra long haul fleet, as well as on Airbus A380 aircraft
So it’ll take nearly three years to roll out the service, and it won’t even be coming to all aircraft in the fleet. Specifically, Boeing 737 MAX 8s, 777-300ERs, and 787-10s, as well as medium haul Airbus A350-900s, won’t get the service.
Singapore Airlines has just under 150 passenger aircraft, and just over one-third of those are expected to get the service. Usually one of the selling points of Starlink is how quickly it can be rolled out, so to take nearly three years to retrofit 53 planes with the service is puzzlingly slow. You’d expect such a project to take under a year, if done efficiently.
Bottom line
Singapore Airlines has announced plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi, which is great news. The catch is that installation will only happen between early 2027 and late 2029. Furthermore, only select A350s and all A380s will get Starlink, and that makes up only around one-third of the fleet.
So I’m happy to see this development, but among airlines that have announced Starlink, Singapore Airlines perhaps has the least comprehensive and expedited plans.
What do you make of Singapore Airlines’ Starlink announcement?
How come it is taking Air France around a year to install starlink, with around 50 pct of its fleet already completed. They have a significantly larger fleet.
A few quick takes:
-It's probably safe to say that the 77Ws won't be getting any additional upgrades as they'll be retired in favour of the 779. (Unless of course they trickle down as a regional aircraft but that's unlikely)
-I anticipate the 779s to also get Starlink.
-The medium-haul fleet will probably get a separate provider the same way the medium-haul A350s have Thales for their IFE while the rest of their...
A few quick takes:
-It's probably safe to say that the 77Ws won't be getting any additional upgrades as they'll be retired in favour of the 779. (Unless of course they trickle down as a regional aircraft but that's unlikely)
-I anticipate the 779s to also get Starlink.
-The medium-haul fleet will probably get a separate provider the same way the medium-haul A350s have Thales for their IFE while the rest of their fleet has Panasonic. I guess it's to avoid relying on a sole vendor, better pricing, etc.
The only real benefit Starlink will bring over SQ's existing service is the elimination of the dark spots in the Southern Indian Ocean where their current providers don't have coverage. I've had 1-2 hours of no coverage when flying JNB-SIN and vv in recent months.
Sean, a very interesting observation, thank you.
Our usual SQ flights are LHR-SIN and beyond. I have no experience of their JBN-SIN service, must try it someday after one of our RSA jaunts. Anymore tips?
"Disappointing" is being a little dramatic since their current wifi is good, maybe not Starlink good, but decent even across the Pacific.
Now if you were talking about Delta and their "premium" 767s :) that have no wifi service across the Pacific then you would be spot-on.
@ BeachBoy -- Hey, I respect your take, but Singapore Airlines is regarded as one of the best airlines in the world, and very high speed Wi-Fi is quickly becoming the norm at this point. Of the dozens of airlines that have announced plans to introduce Starlink, Singapore Airlines has the least comprehensive rollout plan, so I do find that to be a bit disappointing.
But you're right, the state of the carrier's Wi-Fi is quite good, at least by current standards.