British Airways has announced it will provide free, high-speed wifi to all passengers from 2025, following a deal between its parent company IAG and Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network. The service will be available on over 500 aircraft across IAG's carriers, including Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling.
The airline said the 'reliable and lightning-fast' connectivity will be offered to customers in economy, business and first class alike, with no need for special logins. Passengers will be able to connect multiple devices and enjoy lag-free internet from boarding to landing, even over oceans or remote regions.
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle described the move as 'gamechanging for us and our customers, elevating their experience onboard our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate to gate'. The rollout is part of a £7bn transformation programme.
Currently, BA offers limited wifi through its .air service, with free messaging for loyalty club members and paid packages ranging from £4.99 to £21.99 for streaming. The new Starlink service will replace this, providing faster speeds at no cost.
The announcement follows a period of recovery for BA, which has improved punctuality to its best levels since 2012 using AI technology. In August, the airline reported a jump in operating profits for the first half of the year.
Starlink, operated by Musk's SpaceX, has a network of thousands of satellites. The deal comes days after Virgin Media O2 announced a partnership with Starlink to improve mobile coverage in rural UK areas.
