From summer 2025, Air France will offer its passengers a new service: free high-speed internet thanks to Starlink, SpaceX's satellite-based internet service.
This announcement marks a significant step in the digitalisation and service offering of the French airline, which is now at the forefront of European airlines. The new service will be available in all travel classes and will allow passengers to surf the internet, stream videos, play online games or stay in touch with friends and family via their own electronic devices during the flight.
Starlink: The technical basis
Starlink is based on a network of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), which provides faster and more stable internet connections compared to traditional geostationary satellites. This technology has the advantage of enabling an "Earth-like" experience with high speed and low latency, even on long-haul international flights or in remote areas.
In particular, the low latency compared to previous solutions is seen by many industry experts as a milestone for the aviation industry. Passengers can connect multiple devices simultaneously, ensuring a seamless experience regardless of whether they are traveling for business or pleasure.
Competitive pressure and the future of in-flight internet
Air France is not the first airline to introduce Starlink, but it joins a growing list of international airlines using the innovative technology. United Airlines announced in September 2024 that it would gradually equip its fleet with Starlink. Qatar Airways, airBaltic and Hawaiian Airlines are also among the pioneers in this field. Hawaiian Airlines has already completed the rollout and has been offering the service on its trans-Pacific flights since early 2024. This decision by airlines to invest in SpaceX's advanced connectivity is putting increasing pressure on traditional providers such as Panasonic Avionics and Intelsat, which are now relying on hybrid models that combine satellites in different orbits to remain competitive.
Access and use
To use Air France's free Wi-Fi, passengers must log into the airline's frequent flyer program, Flying Blue. For those who don't have an account, it will be possible to sign up easily and free of charge during the flight.
This measure ensures that the enhanced connectivity is available to all passengers, regardless of whether they are frequent flyers or not. This clearly positions Air France as a customer-focused airline that has both the comfort and digital accessibility of its passengers in mind.
Challenge and outlook
Although Starlink offers tremendous benefits for airline passengers, it also has limitations. For example, the use of the service may be restricted in certain countries due to local regulations. Air France has already acknowledged this issue, but without providing detailed information on the regions affected. It remains to be seen how this challenge will be solved on a global scale, as the need for fast and reliable connectivity, even across borders, is growing.
Air France's decision to roll out Starlink across the board is part of a broader strategy to position the airline as a modern, digital provider. Air France is thus joining the global trend being followed by airlines around the world to meet the increasing demands of passengers. The introduction of Starlink could prove to be a competitive advantage, especially in times when travelers increasingly rely on digital offerings and connectivity after the pandemic.
By integrating Starlink, Air France is responding to the needs of an increasingly connected society and paving the way for a new era of aviation in which the Internet will become as commonplace in the air as it is on the ground.
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