Next year, a collaboration between easyJet and SpaceX plans to bring ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi to all aircrafts across the easyJet fleet, giving passengers inflight internet for the first time.
The Collaboration
In 2027, easyJet and Elon Musk’s SpaceX partnership plans on incorporating Starlink Wi-Fi onto easyJet’s A320 and A321 fleet, with the roll out starting at the beginning of the year and scheduled to finish by early 2028. This will give easyJet passengers the in-flight opportunity to stream, game and browse on their own devices just as they would on the ground at 34,000 feet for the very first time.
While easyJet is not the first European airline to team up with SpaceX, others including Air Baltic, Eurowings, Vueling, Wizz Air and even British Airways’ owner International Airlines Group (IAG), easyJet secures its spot as the largest budget carrier in Europe to offer Starlink services, as last year the airline reportedly carried around 94 million passengers.
EasyJet CEO, Kenton Jarvis, explained in a statement:
“In an increasingly digital world, staying connected matters more than ever to many of our customers, whether that’s holidaymakers looking to unwind with inflight entertainment, or our business customers keeping up to speed with what’s happening on the ground.
Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA and partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet connectivity onboard for the first time will not only further enhance the experience we provide millions of customers, but means we are offering more of the options both business and leisure travellers want when they choose who they fly with.
Giving customers the opportunity to get online in the air will mean even greater choice and convenience when you fly with easyJet. Ultimately, it’s yet another way we’re making travel easy.”
Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX, added to the comment:
“We’re proud to bring Starlink onboard easyJet and transform the way their customers stay connected throughout their travels. Fast, reliable connectivity from take-off to landing means people can work, stream, or stay in touch without interruption.”
Unfortunately, questions surrounding a pay-wall for easyJet Starlink Wi-Fi are yet to be answered, leaving those curious disappointed or feeling mislead. On other flights which utilise Starlink Wi-Fi, the service is only available to those who are members of the Airline’s club- this can be noted for British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air France just to name a few. On Qatar Airways, the service, is free for all passengers but only for the first 45 minutes of use, after which is placed behind a pay-wall, unless you are a member of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club which follows the same example as the previously stated airline clubs.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a portion of SpaceX, company for controversial figure-head- Elon Musk, which offers broadband-quality internet service via a network of hundreds to thousands of small spacecraft operating above the Earth’s surface- also known as a constellation of low-earth orbit satellites.
As previously mentioned, SpaceX holds aviation contracts with any of the world’s leading airlines, however in January of this year Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary, and Musk had a very public head-butting over offering Starlink on Ryanair flights, citing the extra fuel it would require. O’Leary featured on The Hard Shoulder podcast, calling Musk ‘misinformed’, going on to state:
‘I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk. He’s an idiot – very wealthy, but he’s still an idiot.’
In response, Musk went on an X rampage, campaigning for O’leary to be fired and naming him ‘an utter idiot’ among other names.
Safe to say there won’t be any Starlink Wi-Fi services on Ryanair flights anytime soon.
Do you think Starlink Wi-Fi will effect the future of in-flight entertainment? Let us know in the comments!
