British Airways will offer free in-flight Wi-Fi from next month under a new connectivity deal between its parent group, IAG, and SpaceX’s Starlink network. The upgrade covers all cabins and allows passengers to connect more than one device without paid tiers or loyalty-scheme gates. BA says the service will run for the entire flight, including long stretches over oceans where conventional links drop out. The announcement forms part of a £7 billion transformation plan now moving through the fleet.
IAG intends to install Starlink across more than 500 aircraft operated by British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. BA’s current .air service offers limited free messaging for Executive Club members, with streaming packages sold separately; these charges will be removed as Starlink hardware comes online. The airline says the new system will deliver high-bandwidth links designed to keep pace with streaming and video calls, with latency cut through the use of low-Earth-orbit satellites.
Rollout Across the Group
Starlink has been approaching airlines for the past two years as its network expands, claiming it can deliver faster broadband than the satellite services they currently use. BA says this will make a particular difference for short-haul routes, where flights are brief enough that paying for onboard connectivity has been a sticking point for passengers. The carrier’s chief executive, Sean Doyle, described the agreement as a major step in improving the passenger experience as the fleet transitions to newer cabins and updated flight systems.
The timing follows Virgin Media O2’s decision to use Starlink as a fallback layer for rural mobile coverage in the UK, announced days earlier. It also comes as IAG prepares to report quarterly results and points to improvements in punctuality after introducing new scheduling and forecasting tools. BA has been under pressure to raise operational performance following several years of disruption linked to staffing, legacy IT and capacity constraints.
Installations will be carried out as aircraft enter their regular maintenance slots. BA says early routes will include transatlantic and European services, with coverage expanding as more aircraft receive the antennas and cabin hardware. The airline expects most of the short-haul and long-haul fleet to be equipped within two years, though exact timelines depend on aircraft availability and regulatory approvals.
