Elon Musk’s Starlink is rapidly becoming a dominant force in the in-flight Wi-Fi market, and its next big target could be British Airways. According to a new report from Bloomberg, SpaceX is in conversations with British Airways’ parent company, IAG, for a deal that would cement Starlink’s presence on the lucrative trans-Atlantic route.
Over the past three years, Starlink has onboarded a growing list of carriers, including Air France, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines. Virgin Atlantic struck a deal in July, and just this week, Alaska Airlines announced plans to begin offering free Starlink Wi-Fi starting in 2026.
JSX, which already offers Starlink on its fleet of Embraer jets, says passengers remain stunned at how fast the service is, with smooth Zoom calls, FaceTime, and even streaming possible mid-flight.
But Musk has his eyes on an even bigger prize: the Middle East. SpaceX has reportedly been in advanced talks with Emirates, FlyDubai, Gulf Air, and most notably Saudia, the kingdom’s flagship airline. A deal with Emirates — widely seen as one of the world’s top luxury carriers — would be a major milestone for Starlink, bringing its service to the global hub of long-haul aviation. Notably, Starlink is not yet authorized to operate in the United Arab Emirates, home to both Emirates and FlyDubai, even though negotiations are ongoing.
Starlink has gained traction in aviation thanks to its network of nearly 8,000 satellites, which deliver faster speeds than legacy in-air internet providers like EchoStar, Viasat, and SES. The service costs airlines upfront installation costs of roughly $300,000 per Boeing 737, or $500,000 for larger aircraft like the 787, plus ongoing subscription fees on a per-seat basis.
Musk also hinted this week that Starlink Wi-Fi could soon make its way into Tesla vehicles, further showing how he’s cross-pollinating between his companies. From planes to EVs, SpaceX’s Starlink is pushing to be the go-to solution for internet wherever you go.
