SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Korean Air will begin offering free in-flight Wi-Fi powered by Starlink on select flights starting from next week, the South Korean flag carrier said on Friday.
With the launch of the service slated for Sept. 15, Korean Air will become the first major East Asian carrier to adopt Starlink's satellite-based internet, enhancing onboard connectivity.
The service will initially be available on four retrofitted aircraft including three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER. They will mostly be deployed on medium- and long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as some short-haul routes.
Korean Air plans to expand the service to most of its fleet by the end of 2027 to provide all its passengers with reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, letting them enjoy the same in-flight experience.
The Starlink-powered Wi-Fi will be available free of charge in all cabin classes, allowing passengers to access internet speeds fast enough to listen to music, watch videos on streaming sites, play online games and more.
But internet-based voice or video calls, as well as live streaming on social media, though technically possible, will remain restricted under the airline's policies to help maintain a comfortable cabin environment and ensure aviation security.
The introduction of Starlink is expected to be a major draw for Korean Air passengers, particularly on long-haul flights, where reliable internet connectivity has become an increasingly important competitive feature among major carriers.
AJP Takeaways
- Korean Air will launch free Starlink-powered in-flight Wi-Fi on Sept. 15, initially on four retrofitted aircraft: three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER.
- The service will be free in all cabin classes and will support streaming, web browsing, online gaming, music and messaging, while internet-based voice and video calls and social media live streaming will remain restricted.
- Korean Air plans to expand Starlink Wi-Fi to most of its fleet by the end of 2027, initially focusing on medium- and long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia.
With the launch of the service slated for Sept. 15, Korean Air will become the first major East Asian carrier to adopt Starlink's satellite-based internet, enhancing onboard connectivity.
The service will initially be available on four retrofitted aircraft including three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER. They will mostly be deployed on medium- and long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as some short-haul routes.
Korean Air plans to expand the service to most of its fleet by the end of 2027 to provide all its passengers with reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, letting them enjoy the same in-flight experience.
The Starlink-powered Wi-Fi will be available free of charge in all cabin classes, allowing passengers to access internet speeds fast enough to listen to music, watch videos on streaming sites, play online games and more.
But internet-based voice or video calls, as well as live streaming on social media, though technically possible, will remain restricted under the airline's policies to help maintain a comfortable cabin environment and ensure aviation security.
The introduction of Starlink is expected to be a major draw for Korean Air passengers, particularly on long-haul flights, where reliable internet connectivity has become an increasingly important competitive feature among major carriers.
AJP Takeaways
- Korean Air will launch free Starlink-powered in-flight Wi-Fi on Sept. 15, initially on four retrofitted aircraft: three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER.
- The service will be free in all cabin classes and will support streaming, web browsing, online gaming, music and messaging, while internet-based voice and video calls and social media live streaming will remain restricted.
- Korean Air plans to expand Starlink Wi-Fi to most of its fleet by the end of 2027, initially focusing on medium- and long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia.
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