Gone are the days when passengers have to be disconnected from the outside world when flying. While there are passengers who prefer not to be connected for the few hours they are in the air, this is not a sentiment shared by the majority of flyers. While in-flight Wi-Fi has become steadily more available with carriers around the world for over a decade, the availability of Starlink connectivity onboard aircraft is something relatively new, from the 2020s.

With more and more carriers introducing Starlink connectivity on aircraft, this article looks at the rollout of this system across various aircraft types and airlines around the world.

Speedy Connectivity – On Ground & In Flight

While in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity was previously limited to low-speed (mostly text-based) communications and perhaps basic internet browsing, the technology simply did not offer sufficient bandwidth for passengers to do more while flying. Previous connectivity and services did not allow for activities such as streaming videos on various platforms, such as Netflix or YouTube, or performing conference calls.

However, in the past few years, Starlink has become a popular connectivity provider with airlines, with the service provider enabling passengers to remain connected in-flight, as they were on the ground. With browsing speeds exceeding hundreds of mbps, passengers are now able to stream movies and TV shows from their favorite platforms, while customers flying for work now have the capability to join conference calls and achieve productivity in flight, similar to that of working from home or the office. Qatar Airways even recently hosted an online gaming competition on board one of its Starlink-equipped aircraft.

One of the earliest adopters of Starlink in the world was European carrier airBaltic, which the carrier introduced in 2023, onboard its fleet of Airbus A220s. The airline saw the attraction of the service it provided, which is that the carrier could offer high-speed connectivity to passengers, with low installation costs, enabling the airline to make the service free of charge, and not have to collect any information from the passengers.

Available On Increasing Number Of Aircraft Types

While in-flight Wi-Fi is nothing new, Starlink is still a new system and therefore requires certification for different aircraft types before the system can be installed on them. So, what aircraft types has Starlink been certified on for in-flight connectivity?

Data as of December 15, 2025, from Starlink’s website, indicate the following Airbus and Boeing aircraft types have been certified to offer Starlink connectivity onboard:

However, the service provider is also working on certifying a few more aircraft types during the course of 2026, and this includes the Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 737-900 during the first quarter, while the Airbus A380 is expected to be certified during the second quarter, with the first of the type with Starlink connectivity set to operate for Emirates and the third quarter will see Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 aircraft types get certified.

It is, however, worth noting that there are a lot more aircraft types certified to provide Starlink connectivity, with the majority of these aircraft types being exclusively utilized in the Charter Aviation sector; while several regional aircraft types also have Starlink certification.

Will Starlink Replace Seat Back Screens?

Perhaps the most suitable answer to the question would be « It Depends », because it really can depend on a number of varying factors. These include the airline in question, the level of in-flight service they provide, and the aircraft cabins, just to name a few.

While some airlines have removed their seat-back screen and provide in-flight entertainment to passengers straight onto their devices, it is worth noting that this is not the case for all aircraft types, even within the same airline. While replacing seat back screens on short-haul and regional flights, which are primarily operated by regional or narrow-body aircraft, this strategy might not be feasible on aircraft utilized for long-haul services, considering how competitive the aviation market can be. Furthermore, sometimes the screens are removed on economy cabins but not premium cabins, just to provide an elevated level of service.

Ultimately, it will depend on the airline, the aircraft type, and the level of service they wish to provide their customers with. While time will tell how different airlines will utilize Starlink, it is already obvious that an increasing number of airlines are beginning to utilize the high-speed connectivity provider, and as more aircraft types become certified, the number of carriers around the world utilizing Starlink will naturally increase.