Air France Brings Starlink to Its Entire Fleet
Following United's recent announcement of providing fast free in-flight Wi-Fi, Air France unveiled on Sept. 26 its plans to introduce Starlink broadband services across its entire fleet. Scheduled to start in the summer, this transition will eventually see Starlink replacing current inflight connectivity providers Anuvu, Intelsat, and Panasonic Avionics, which rely on geostationary satellites. Air France aims to equip over 200 of its long-haul and regional aircraft, predominantly Airbus models, with free Starlink services, though a precise timeline has not been disclosed. This is prepared by SSP.
Passengers utilizing Starlink will experience ultra-high-speed, low-latency connectivity reminiscent of ground-based internet, suitable for online gaming, streaming TV, and other demanding services. Despite these enhancements, Air France noted that Starlink access might be restricted over certain countries, but specifics were not provided.
This move parallels Alaska-owned Hawaiian Airlines, which recently began implementing Starlink on most transpacific flights, and United Airlines' announcement on Sept. 13. United plans to shift its over 1,000 aircraft from geostationary providers next year, favoring Starlink's low Earth orbit constellation for superior inflight connectivity.