Air France to Offer Free High-Speed Wi-Fi Powered by Starlink
All Air France passengers will soon be able to connect to high-speed in-flight internet free of charge
Photo: Courtesy of Air France
Air France is rolling out free high-speed Wi-Fi across its entire fleet of aircraft, becoming the latest in a string of airlines that have teamed up with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide ultra-high-speed connectivity onboard.
The French flag carrier confirmed that Starlink-powered Wi-Fi will become available on its aircraft in the summer of 2025. The progressive rollout of the new technology, which is said to provide a ‘ground-like’ experience for passengers, is part of Air France’s commitment to re-establish itself as a leading premium airline by offering unlimited connectivity to its passengers—a first for any airline in Europe.
Photo: Courtesy of Air France
The new in-flight service is set to be rolled out across Air France’s entire fleet, including its short-haul regional aircraft, and will be free of charge to all passengers, no matter what class of cabin they’re flying in.
Access to Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet service will allow passengers to stay connected to their loved ones on the ground, play online games, or seamlessly browse and stream content on any connected device, whether a mobile, tablet, or laptop.
To gain access, passengers must log into their Flying Blue account. Those not yet a member of Air France-KLM’s frequent flyer program can sign up for free on board.
Rollout Plan and Timeline
As the rollout will be gradual, aircraft that are yet to be equipped with the new technology will continue to offer their current connectivity service during the transition period, which includes free messaging for Flying Blue members.
Photo: Courtesy of Air France
Starlink, developed and operated by SpaceX, uses low-orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet throughout the world, including even the most remote areas. And Air France joins a growing number of airlines that have chosen Starlink to provide high-speed Wi-Fi to its aircraft.
Starlink Storms into the Airline Industry
Arguably Starlink’s biggest aviation deal yet was with United Airlines, which announced earlier this month that it will also be rolling out the technology across its entire fleet in 2025.
Aviation journalist Jason Rabinowitz stated in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) that “Starlink is displacing long-standing incumbents such as Panasonic, Intelsat, and Viasat, while also leading some airlines to switch from multiple vendors to a single source. A revolution is underway.”
Hawaiian Airlines began rolling it out in February 2024, while it recently confirmed the free service is now available across its entire Airbus fleet. Other airlines that have signed deals with Starlink include Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, and airBaltic.
Photo: Courtesy of Air France
“Very excited that we have about 2,500 aircraft under contract now, bringing what was effectively a startup to now what we think is a growing experience that’s going to resonate with all the passengers and the airlines worldwide,” said Nick Galano, director of Starlink aviation sales and partnerships at SpaceX, during the World Space Business Week conference in Paris earlier this month.
