Image: Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is officially bringing Starlink Wi-Fi to the skies.
In a press release this week, Southwest Airlines announced it will begin installing SpaceX’s Starlink across its fleet, delivering next-generation, low-Earth orbit satellite internet to passengers across its network of 11 countries. The first Starlink-equipped Southwest aircraft will enter service this summer, with more than 300 carriers expected to be outfitted by the end of 2026.
Even better for travelers: Starlink-powered Wi-Fi will be free for Southwest loyalty members. “Free WiFi has been a huge hit with our Rapid Rewards Members, and we know our Customers expect seamless connectivity across all their devices when they travel,” said Tony Roach, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer & Brand Officer at Southwest Airlines.
“Starlink delivers that at-home experience in the air, giving Customers the ability to stream their favorite shows from any platform, watch live sports, download music, play games, work, and connect with loved ones from takeoff to landing.”
Starlink, which now operates more than 9,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, promises dramatically faster speeds and lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellite systems. That means real-time messaging, high-definition streaming, live gaming, and even large file uploads at 35,000 feet.
“We’re thrilled to deliver a connectivity experience to Southwest Airlines and its Customers that really is similar, if not better, than what you can experience in your own home. Starlink is the future of connected travel, making every journey faster, smoother, and infinitely more enjoyable,” said Jason Fritch, Vice President of Starlink Enterprise Sales at SpaceX.
Southwest now joins United Airlines as one of the two largest U.S. carriers to embrace Starlink Wi-Fi fleetwide. United’s first Starlink-equipped aircraft took off last year, and the airline recently even ran a Super Bowl ad highlighting its free Starlink Wi-Fi. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have also adopted the service stateside, while international heavyweights like Emirates, flydubai, and British Airways have inked similar deals.
Importantly, SpaceX’s global head of Starlink aviation, Nick Seitz, recently confirmed that airlines partnering with Starlink are expected to keep the service free for passengers — a major competitive differentiator. As Starlink gains momentum across the aviation industry, airlines without great internet risk losing customers to those that offer it.
With Southwest rolling out Starlink to hundreds of aircraft over the next two years, the race for the best in-flight Wi-Fi experience is officially on.
