French flag carrier Air France has announced it will start rolling out “free ultra-high-speed” wi-fi on board all its aircraft from next year, thanks to Elon Musk’s Starlink fleet of satellites.
“During the flight, customers will be able to easily stay in touch with friends and family, follow all the world’s news live, play video games online and of course stream TV, films and series”, Air France explained in a statement. “The service will be accessible from smartphones, digital tablets and laptops, and each customer will be able to connect several devices simultaneously.”
From 2025 onwards, the airline will progressively roll out an “ultra-high-speed connectivity” service for a “ground-like” experience. The new service will be accessible to customers with a Flying Blue account, the Air France-KLM Group loyalty program, completely free of charge in all travel cabins. Passengers who do not yet have a Flying Blue account can create one free of charge on board and in just a few clicks, while those flying in the La Première class will be able to access the service without an account. Over time, the Starlink wi-fi will be made available aboard all the carrier’s aircraft, replacing the current offer.
During the transitional period, the airline will continue to offer a connectivity service on board aircraft that are not yet equipped, including a free “Message Pass” for Flying Blue members and a paid offer that covers other needs.
Earlier this year, United announced a similar partnership with Starlink, joining other American airlines that already offer free onboard wi-fi. After introducing free onboard wi-fi on most of its domestic flights last year, Delta Air Lines has this year expanded the feature, introducing internet connectivity on most of its international routes.
Starlink has grown to become the world’s largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit. It delivers broadband internet capable of supporting services like streaming, online gaming and video calls to the remotest places in the world, increasingly partnering with airlines and cruise liners to offer its services in the air and the middle of the ocean.
Recently, the company, a subsidiary of Musk’s larger SpaceX spacecraft manufacturer venture, confirmed it has reached more than 100 countries, territories, and other markets around the world, spanning all 7 continents, with the number of people using Starlink around the world has grown over 4 million.
