大韩航空宣布本月起在长途航线推出基于Starlink的免费机上Wi-Fi，2027年底覆盖全机队

Passengers on Korean Air (003490) will no longer have to pay separately for onboard Wi-Fi to send messages or stream video. The carrier plans to roll out in-flight Wi-Fi using SpaceX's low-Earth-orbit satellite internet service Starlink as early as this month, offering it free of charge in every seat.
Free Wi-Fi on Long-Haul Routes, With Speeds Up to 20 Times Faster
Korean Air will begin phasing in Starlink-based in-flight Wi-Fi this month, starting with aircraft deployed on long-haul routes, according to the aviation and telecommunications industries on the 4th. The carrier plans to widen the rollout in stages and extend the service to all aircraft types and all passengers by the end of 2027.
Starlink connects users through some 8,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. Its maximum data transmission speed is 500 Mbps, up to 20 times faster than the Wi-Fi currently available on aircraft. That would allow passengers to use video streaming, video calls and online gaming, not just messaging and web browsing.
Access is straightforward. Passengers connect as they would to any Wi-Fi network, with no separate application required. The connection is available from the moment the aircraft prepares to leave the departure gate until it arrives at the destination gate.
The biggest change is the price. Korean Air currently charges for in-flight Wi-Fi, with full-flight access on long-haul international routes costing $20.95, or about 29,000 won. The Starlink-based service will be provided free in every seat.
The first aircraft to receive the service are the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A350-900, both used on major long-haul routes to the Americas and Europe. Korean Air will then expand the free Wi-Fi service across its entire fleet.
Starlink Race Spans 46 Airlines Worldwide as In-Flight Wi-Fi Shifts
The shift to low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity is spreading across the global aviation industry. As of the 28th of last month, 46 airlines had either adopted Starlink or were moving to do so, according to Starlink Flights. Four have completed fleet-wide installation, 17 are installing the system, and 25 have announced or are testing adoption. The aircraft targeted for installation by these carriers total about 1,300.
United Airlines is pursuing the largest rollout, covering 458 aircraft. It began with small regional jets and is expanding to Boeing 737s and wide-body aircraft, with plans to equip its entire fleet with Starlink by 2027.
Qatar Airways leads on long-haul routes. After becoming the first airline in the world to install Starlink on a Boeing 777 in October 2024, it extended coverage to the A350 and Boeing 787. The carrier said it has completed installation on 150 wide-body aircraft, meaning about 83% of its fleet now uses Starlink.
In Europe, IAG — the parent of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus — has agreed to install Starlink on about 500 aircraft, while Lufthansa Group plans to begin installation at affiliates including Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Eurowings in the second half of 2026.
The upgrade requires substantial investment. Investment bank Jefferies estimated that installing Starlink on about 500 narrow-body aircraft at American Airlines would cost roughly $300,000 to $500,000 per aircraft, or about 400 million to 700 million won.