Image: Emirates
As Starlink-powered in-flight Wi-Fi continues to roll out across major airlines, passengers may be wondering whether the service will eventually come with a price tag. According to SpaceX, the short answer is no — at least not for most travelers.
Speaking at CES 2026 this week, Nick Seitz, global head of Starlink’s aviation business, said airlines are expected to keep Starlink Wi-Fi free, even as they look for new ways to monetize the experience. “It’ll be specific to each brand, some brands will handle it differently. But ultimately, free,” Seitz said, as reported by PCMag. He added that free internet access can actually be the most profitable approach, particularly when paired with personalization and advertising.
Seitz, who previously worked at T-Mobile helping roll out free in-flight internet, explained that Starlink’s dramatically higher bandwidth opens the door for airlines to treat onboard connectivity more like home broadband. With faster speeds and more capacity, airlines can introduce targeted ads, branded experiences, and deeper personalization — all without charging passengers directly.
That model is already taking shape. On United Airlines flights equipped with Starlink, passengers must log in using the airline’s free loyalty program, where ads are shown during the login process. During testing last year, Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on United flights delivered speeds of around 100 Mbps, far exceeding legacy satellite systems.
Low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers may still choose to charge for access, Seitz noted, especially given the high upfront costs of installing Starlink hardware across large fleets. But premium airlines appear committed to offering fast, free connectivity as a differentiator. An Air France executive speaking alongside Seitz at CES echoed that sentiment, calling free, best-in-class Wi-Fi a requirement for premium carriers.
This all comes as Starlink gains serious momentum in aviation. In its 2025 progress report, Starlink said it served more than 21 million airline passengers last year, with over 1,400 commercial aircraft now equipped — nearly four times more than in 2024. High-profile airlines like Emirates, flydubai, British Airways, and Qatar Airways have all either launched or announced Starlink-powered Wi-Fi, with Qatar now operating the world’s largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet.
As Seitz put it, passengers increasingly expect the same multi-screen, high-speed internet experience in the air that they have on the ground. With Starlink, airlines finally have the infrastructure to deliver it — and potentially make money doing so without charging passengers a dime.
